The 25-year-old’s first campaign with Chelsea, following a switch from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, ended triumphantly as he helped the Blues win the UEFA Conference League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

Between those two successes, he earned another winner’s medal with Portugal, when he was part of the side that beat holders Spain in the final of the 2025 UEFA Nations League.

Those endeavours have meant a busy schedule for Neto, which has continued this season with Chelsea dovetailing our UEFA Champions League and Carabao Cup campaigns alongside Premier League duties. But his enthusiasm is undiminished.

‘I’m really fresh, I feel really good,’ insisted Neto despite his heavy workload. ‘It’s really good to be playing football week in, week out in the middle of the week, so I just want to enjoy it.

‘Of course, last season was a fantastic season. I managed not to be injured and I managed to be consistent in terms of game time. Of course, collectively and individually, it was excellent, but I hope I can have much better years in the future!’

The next opportunity for the Portuguese international to show what he can do is in tonight’s Champions League match at the Bridge, when he will be up against several of his countrymen in the form of Benfica.

We also met the Lisbon-based side in the last 16 of the Club World Cup in the summer, when Neto got on the score sheet to help us triumph 4-1 in a match which was suspended for two hours due to a storm.

However, with Benfica under new management in the form of ex-Chelsea head coach Jose Mourinho, and several new players featuring for As Aguias, Pedro is expecting a very different game this time around in London.

‘We played them during the Club World Cup, but it did not have that much intensity because the game stopped due to the weather conditions,’ explained Neto.

‘It’s a tough club to face; one of the best clubs in the world. Benfica is always in these kinds of competitions, and everyone knows that Benfica know how these competitions work and what they have to do.

‘However, we are also at one of the best clubs in the world, we know what we have to do, we are focused on ourselves, we are ready to face a great club and we are ready to win the three points.

‘The new manager has implemented his ideas, the players have changed a lot, so we are expecting a different Benfica with different ideas. We know what Benfica is capable of doing, but we are focused on our way of working, focused on ourselves and we really want to win.’

Neto concluded by discussing the impression his fellow winger Estevao Willian has made since joining Chelsea from Palmeiras in the summer, with everyone doing their bit to help the new arrival settle in England.

‘Estevao happily is a young guy that loves to learn,’ he added. ‘You can clearly see that he’s a hard-working guy who has a lot of quality and naturally we hope that he can provide a lot to the team.

‘We are aware of his tremendous qualities. He has to carry on the way he is. He is a happy kid from Brazil, he enjoys playing. We are all trying to help him. We are focused on providing the best environment possible so he can help the team.’