Pedro Neto is free to face PSG following UEFA’s decision

Chelsea striker Pedro Neto will be available to play in the second leg of theirs Round of 16 of the Champions League draw with Paris Saint-Germain after escaping a penalty for bumping the ball.

The Blues were left with a mountain to climb after a punishing night last Wednesday at the Parc des Princes as the first of their last 16 games with the holders went sideways in the second half.

Chelsea were beaten 5-2, paying the price for naivety and goalkeeping errors, but it was a freak incident involving Neto that stole the headlines.

The winger lost his composure as he rushed to get the ball back into play at 4-2 as he bumped the ball boy near the advertising boards.

The unpleasantness between the two teams subsequently boiled over and UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against Neto for what he called « unsportsmanlike conduct ».

However, European football’s governing body opted only to caution Neto, clearing him to feature in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday as Chelsea look to pull off a remarkable turnaround.

This news was welcomed by head coach Liam Rosenier.

« He is a fantastic player, he apologized for the incident and I think UEFA made the right decision, » Rosenior told his pre-match press conference.

Neto is available as Chelsea face a huge task

Neto was quick to express his regret for his actions when he spoke to the media after the defeat in Paris.

« I’m not like that. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologize. I gave him my shirt. I’m really sorry for that – I feel like I have to apologize to him, » Neto told TNT Sports.

“My French is not very good and (Portugal team-mate) Vitinha came and told him I’m not like that.

« In the end he (the ball boy) laughed and I gave him my shirt and told him I was sorry about 35 times. He saw what happened and was happy with the situation. »

Neto is likely to have a role as Chelsea look for a historic comeback against PSG. He was left out of the squad on Saturday when the Blues were beaten 1-0 at home by Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Odds are solid against Chelsea. Only one team in the history of the Champions League has managed to eliminate the holders in the knockout phase after losing the first leg by as many as three goals.

It is more than 20 years since Deportivo La Coruña achieved this feat in the quarter-finals of the 2003-04 competition, with the Spanish side winning 4-0 at the Riasor after losing 4-1 at the San Siro.