Rosenior admits Neto ball boy shove ‘doesn’t look good’ as winger faces another ban

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior has admitted that Pedro Neto’s shove of a ball boy at Paris Saint-Germain “doesn’t look good” with the winger facing a potential ban .

Neto pushed the ball boy off his chair in the closing stages of Chelsea’s 5-2 defeat in the first leg of their last-16 tie at Parc des Princes, as he tried to retrieve the ball, sparking a melee between players from both sides.

The Portuguese apologised both on and off camera and gave the ball boy his shirt, but Uefa has nevertheless confirmed it is investigating Neto for “unsporting behaviour” and that its “disciplinary bodies will take a decision on this case in due course”.

Rosenior hailed how the player took responsibility for his action but couldn’t deny that the optics were bad.

open image in gallery

“I've watched it back and it doesn't look good,” he said ahead of Saturday’s visit of Newcastle. “I understand Pedro's perspective and his want to win, but there are ways you go about it.

"I was so impressed that he wanted to apologise straight away. We all make mistakes, it's about learning from them and making sure they don't happen again."

Neto could receive a suspension by Uefa for the return leg at Stamford Bridge but has already been hit with a further one-match ban by the FA, as well as a £70,000 fine, regarding his conduct after his sending off against Arsenal on 1 March.

Neto accepted a charge after it was alleged he had acted in an “improper manner by failing to leave the pitch promptly and/or using abusive words towards the match officials”.

Rosenior will thus be grateful to welcome back Jamie Gittens to the fold, who bolsters his winger options following injury.

open image in gallery

"Jamie is back, which is great,” said Rosenior, before revealing Estevao’s situation will be more touch and go.

“Estevao is still further away; we want to be careful because of the nature of his hamstring injury, we don't want it re-occurring at a crucial stage of the season. We'll see what he's like for Tuesday's Champions League second leg."

Rosenior also threw his support behind Filip Jorgensen despite the goalkeeper’s costly errors in midweek, insisting that there is “no question of the quality” of both the Swede and Robert Sanchez.

"I made a decision to play Filip [Jorgensen] agaisnt Aston Villa and he was outstanding,” said Rosenior on the 23-year-old, who has leapt above Sanchez in the pecking order in recent weeks.

open image in gallery

“I think his performance for 75 minutes [against PSG] was magnificent; he makes one mistake, we get punished and we lost the game in a manner we definitely shouldn't have lost.

"Robert Sanchez is one of the best goalkeepers in the league. There is no question of the quality of these two players at this level. It's more about my decision for each game."

Asked if Jorgensen is in a position mentally to start against Newcastle, Rosenior said: “For sure. Everybody makes mistakes, it's about how you respond to the setbacks. I have no lack of trust in either of them, or the team."