Old Ties, New Wounds: Bruno Lage Haunted by Pedro Neto as Chelsea Crush Benfica at the Club World Cup
By [Author Name]
Date: June 29, 2025
Football has always been a story of reunions — sometimes redemptive, sometimes devastating. For Bruno Lage, his latest chapter in football’s winding narrative came full circle at the FIFA Club World Cup, where the manager’s Benfica side fell 4–1 to Chelsea in a brutal reminder of how quickly the game can turn on you — and how former allies can become your fiercest adversaries.
At the center of this painful reunion was Pedro Neto — the once-promising winger Lage had mentored during his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Back then, Neto was a teenager filled with potential and flashes of brilliance. In 2025, under the spotlight of a global tournament, he emerged as a fully realized menace — the orchestrator of Benfica’s downfall and one of Chelsea’s brightest stars.
It was supposed to be a tactical battle, a chess match between European giants. Instead, it became a personal story — of growth, of pain, and of how fast things can change in the world’s most unforgiving sport.
A Manager Searching for Redemption
Bruno Lage’s appointment at Benfica in September 2024 surprised many. His coaching CV was polarizing. On the one hand, he had delivered silverware during his first stint with Benfica in 2019, showcasing a sharp tactical mind and a penchant for developing young talent. On the other, his time in England ended in frustration, and his brief, stormy spell at Brazilian side Botafogo had done little to restore his reputation.
Axed after just three months in Brazil, Lage returned to the club where his managerial journey began, hoping that Benfica would be the place where he could finally reestablish himself among the European elite. With the Club World Cup offering a rare shot at international glory, Benfica fans dared to dream. But those dreams were quickly dashed.
Drawn against Chelsea in the Round of 16, Benfica knew they were in for a challenge. Chelsea, under the rejuvenated leadership of Enzo Maresca, had traveled to the tournament with one of the most dynamic squads in the competition. Yet it wasn’t a headline striker or a marquee midfield signing that would unravel Lage’s plans — it was a familiar face from his Wolves days.
Pedro Neto: The Pupil Turned Predator
For many neutral fans, Pedro Neto might have seemed like just another winger with flair and a few decent goals to his name. But for Bruno Lage, he was more than that — a player he had helped nurture, mold, and guide during one of Wolves’ most competitive Premier League stretches.
Under Lage’s guidance at Molineux, Neto had started to evolve — improving his decision-making, expanding his movement in the final third, and adding more intelligence to his dribbling patterns. Even when injuries struck, Lage remained loyal to the winger, frequently highlighting him as a cornerstone of Wolves’ attacking blueprint.
Fast forward to 2025, and Neto is no longer a work in progress. He is Chelsea’s engine on the flanks, part of a forward line that combines technique, pace, and positional fluidity. Neto, now 25 years old, has added muscle to his frame, experience to his game, and maturity to his decision-making. The Chelsea shirt fits him well — perhaps too well for Lage’s liking.
In the Club World Cup, Neto had already begun to shine. After finding the net in the group stages, he was surprisingly rested against Esperance Tunis — a decision that raised eyebrows but ultimately preserved him for the Benfica tie. In a poetic twist of fate, his return to the starting lineup came against the man who knew him best.
Four Hours of Weather, Emotion, and One-Sided Brilliance
What unfolded in the quarterfinal clash between Benfica and Chelsea was a chaotic yet calculated display of dominance from the Premier League side. The match, plagued by weather delays, stretched for nearly four hours — but the narrative was clear long before the final whistle.
Chelsea were faster, sharper, and more organized. Benfica, for all their grit, looked overmatched. And Neto? He looked like a man possessed.
Operating from the right flank, Neto repeatedly targeted Benfica’s left side, exploiting spaces behind their wing-backs with ease. His performance was not just electric — it was devastatingly efficient.
📊 Pedro Neto vs. Benfica (per Sofascore):
⚽ 1 Goal
🎯 3 Key Passes
📬 4 Accurate Crosses
🔁 93% Pass Accuracy
🔥 Countless headaches for Benfica’s defenders
He glided past defenders with confidence, picked out teammates in pockets of space, and finally, in the 64th minute, drove a low finish past the Benfica keeper — a clinical strike that signaled the end of any realistic hope for Lage’s side.
Lage could only watch as the game slipped away, a familiar silhouette celebrating on the other end.
What the Defeat Means for Lage
In his post-match press conference, Lage was reflective but honest.
“We had the chance to progress, but we played against an excellent team — especially with great wingers,” he said. “I know Pedro Neto very well. If he has the chance to play 1v1, he is very difficult to stop.”
His words carried both admiration and resignation. This wasn’t just a defeat. It was a performance that highlighted Benfica’s limitations — in quality, in depth, and in experience. Lage’s tactical setup, which had seen some success domestically, was picked apart by a Chelsea side built to compete at the highest level.
For a manager still trying to re-establish credibility in European football, the loss was more than just an early exit. It was a public reminder of how far he still has to go — and how quickly the players he once coached have surpassed him.
Neto’s Rise — and Chelsea’s Dangerous Wings
Chelsea’s investment in Pedro Neto raised some eyebrows in the summer of 2024, especially given his history with injuries. But the Club World Cup is now serving as a showcase for why they brought him in.
Three goals, countless chances created, and a consistency in big moments — Neto is no longer a player defined by potential. He is delivering. With Enzo Maresca giving him the freedom to roam, cut inside, and create, Neto has become a nightmare for full-backs and a constant outlet in transition.
And perhaps more critically, he is becoming a big-game player — something Chelsea have lacked on the flanks in recent years.
The Club World Cup may be a secondary tournament in the eyes of some European fans, but for Chelsea — and for Neto — it represents both silverware and validation.
Full Circle and Forward
For Pedro Neto, the win over Benfica will be remembered as a statement of intent — a night where he exorcised the ghosts of early career injuries and stepped fully into the light.
For Bruno Lage, it will be remembered differently. As a sobering reminder that football doesn’t wait. That yesterday’s wonderkid can become tomorrow’s executioner. That mentors, no matter how well-intentioned, eventually must face their own legacy — sometimes in the form of a dazzling winger sprinting past your defenders on a global stage.
This was more than just a football match. It was a story — of old ties, new wounds, and the relentless march of time.