Pedro Neto targets Chelsea silverware in Europe and UEFA Champions League qualification - 'We live for these moments'
Published 30/04/2025 at 21:06 GMT+1
Enzo Maresca has urged Chelsea to go and make history in the UEFA Conference League, as they attempt to become the first club to win each of the three major European trophies. The Blues take on Swedish side Djurgardens in the last four of the tournament. Pedro Neto said it is the kind of game players "live for," as he also targets a UEFA Champions League qualification place via the Premier League.
Williams says ‘every kid wants to play at Old Trafford’ as Athletic Club prepare for Man Utd
Video credit: SNTV
Pedro Neto has told TNT Sports he cannot wait for Chelsea's UEFA Conference League semi-final tie against Djurgardens.
The Swedish outfit will host The Blues for the first leg of the last-four tie on Thursday, May 1, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Enzo Maresca's side are heavy favourites to progress, having won nine of their ten matches since the league phase of the competition began.
And Neto believes that matches like this are what every footballer dreams of being involved in.
"It's really important [to win the Conference League]," he said. "It's a really important competition. It's a European competition, which everyone wants to win for sure. It's always important.
"We want to win this competition more than ever. It's always a trophy for everyone, and we are really looking forward to this next match."
- 'People got carried away' - McManaman struggles to see Arsenal winning PSG tie
- Postecoglou admits Spurs treat Europa and Premier League as 'separate courses'
- An 'electric' dribbler inspired by Neymar - 'Ambitious' Williams relishing 'dream' Man Utd clash
Success in the competition would lift some of the pressure on Maresca, who has been criticised by some since taking the reins at Stamford Bridge.
It would also guarantee qualification for the UEFA Europa League next season.
That is not a competition Chelsea want to be playing in, though, given they can still reach the UEFA Champions League.
With four domestic matches to go, The Blues sit in fifth place in the Premier League, enough to secure a return to continental football's elite tournament. However, sixth-place Nottingham Forest are level on points with the London club and have a game in hand.
Neto believes finishing in the top five has to be their main aim over the remainder of the campaign, as he continued: "We know that we have a hard finish, but we are Chelsea and we live for these moments.
"What we have to do is win the last four games and we know we achieve our goal with that. The club that we are, I think the fans will only be happy with those goals, and that's us as a team as well.
"Us as a team, we know that we are having a good season, but it is our goal to achieve that and it is what we are working for. I think the mindset of the players should be that, because we are big club, we have a very good team and we can finish in the top four."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/04/26/4120971-83557068-2560-1440.jpg)
Highlights: Jackson fires Chelsea to crucial win in UCL race
Video credit: TNT Sports
The forward also reflected on an up and down debut campaign in West London.
He moved to Stamford Bridge from Wolves in August, with Chelsea reportedly splashing out over £50m for his services.
Since then, the Portugal international has scored six goals and registered four assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.
"I'm here to help as much as I can, so I try to be as much use as I can," he added. "I know that I create a lot of chances in a lot of games, but I want to continue to improve. I want to be decisive.
"I think it's in this part of the season that the best players want to play.
"The deciding part of the season when you go into the Champions League, when you win titles... this is what people remember, so I live for this moment."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/04/26/4120912-83555893-2560-1440.jpg)
Cucurella reveals the song that inspires him on a matchday & has message for Chelsea fans
Video credit: TNT Sports
Maresca: 'They are both very important'
Maresca himself admits Chelsea have to find the balance between European and Premier League commitments.
With the Premier League having an extra Champions League place this season, they are currently on course to return to the competition.
Miss out, and it would mean they have failed to qualify for the tournament for three campaigns in a row.
But the manager is refusing to take his eye off the ball in the Conference League, saying: "They are both very important.
"When you are at Chelsea, you know that you have to win games, no matter if it's domestic or a European competition.
"We are in the semi-final; now the next target is to reach the final. In the Premier League, we are there with four games to go. Hopefully we can finish well."
The Conference League, though, presents Chelsea, two-time winners of the Champions League and Europa League, a chance to make history.
"We can be the first club, the only club in the world, winning all the European competitions," he added.
"That is something important for us, for the club, for the fans. Personally, it's just a way to give our fans, our club, another trophy."
But it has not been an easy season for the manager since moving from Leicester last summer.
He has a near-60% win ratio at Stamford Bridge in the league, but has suffered defeats to the likes of Fulham, Brighton and Aston Villa since Christmas.
There was also a shock 2-1 home loss to Legia Warsaw in the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final tie.
Reflecting on the mood around the club, he added: "When you win games, it's much more easy. For the most part of the season, we were all happy. Then we we did not win some games. We were not happy.
"But I think the general feeling from the club, from the fans, from the players, from me, from everyone - when we do not win the game, we are not happy."
Watch the Premier League and UEFA Conference League live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Thoughts?