Geovany Quenda is having to learn a little about patience at Chelsea this season. Unfortunately for the winger, international duty isn’t providing much of an escape either.
The 19-year-old has played just 27 minutes across two matches since arriving at Stamford Bridge in the summer.
Xabi Alonso has largely preferred Pedro Neto on the right, leaving Quenda waiting for opportunities after being a regular at Sporting.
He has now joined Portugal’s U21 squad for their final European Championship qualifier against Czechia. Even there, though, a starting place isn’t guaranteed.
Quenda accepts Chelsea situation
Speaking to O Jogo, Quenda was inevitably asked about his limited involvement at Chelsea. But the youngster isn’t making any fuss about it and accepts that Alonso has the final say.
“About what I don’t control, I can’t do anything,” he said. “They’re the manager’s decisions. I just have to keep giving my best.”
That’s pretty much all Quenda can do for now to be fair. Chelsea signed one of Portugal’s biggest young talents, but Pedro Neto currently stands between him and regular football.
The interesting part is that Quenda is dealing with something similar when he goes away with Portugal.
O Jogo describe him as one of Luís Freire’s “trumps” for the U21s, although that doesn’t automatically mean a place in the starting XI.
The newspaper says the same message about accepting a manager’s decisions also applies to his situation with the national team.
That’s a little more frustrating perhaps. Quenda has gone from playing regularly for Sporting to fighting for minutes at Chelsea and having to do the same at U21 level.
Chance to make his case
Portugal have already qualified for Euro 2027, so Tuesday’s meeting with Czechia comes without the usual pressure. Quenda sees it as useful preparation for what awaits them next summer.
“We’ve already faced Czechia and it was very difficult at their ground,” he said. “I think it’ll be a good game to test what the matches at the Euros could be like.”
He also pointed back to Portugal’s experience at the previous tournament. They were knocked out 1-0 by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
“All the games at a European Championship are difficult, so we have to prepare well to have a good tournament,” Quenda explained.
For the Chelsea youngster, there is another obvious benefit to getting minutes this week. Any opportunity to play gives him another chance to build rhythm and make his case to Alonso before returning to London.
Quenda also highlighted his understanding with Porto’s Rodrigo Mora, something developed over several years in Portugal’s youth teams.
“I think we’re important for the group,” he said. “Rodrigo jokes and says I’m always passing him the ball, but that happens because we have dynamics going back a long time.”
Right now, though, Quenda needs the opportunity to show those dynamics. Chelsea haven’t given him much football yet. Even with Portugal’s U21s, he can’t simply assume the minutes will come.
