Joao Pedro and Jan Paul van Hecke during their time together at Brighton and Hove Albionplaceholder image
Joao Pedro and Jan Paul van Hecke during their time together at Brighton and Hove Albion
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New Chelsea striker Joao Pedro briefly reflected on the final weeks of his Brighton career ahead of Tuesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against his former club Fluminense in New York,
Pedro’s Brighton career ended under a cloud. He received a three-game ban after being sent off at Brentford in April and was then dropped for their last two matches following a reported training group bust-up with team-mate Jan Paul van Hecke.
Asked about the latter incident, he said: “I think the people who know me, know my character, but when two players want to win, these things happen and this is normal.
“I now play for Chelsea so I just want to talk about Chelsea. It was just two players in the moment, we both wanted to win.”
The Brazil striker completed his £60million move to the Blues from Brighton last week and was immediately named on the bench for Friday’s Club World Cup quarter-final win over Palmeiras in Philadelphia.
Now with fellow forward Liam Delap suspended for Tuesday’s semi-final, the 23-year-old – who scored 30 goals in 70 appearances for Brighton – is poised to make his first start.
It has been a whirlwind week for Joao Pedro, who had been on holiday when the call from Chelsea came, but he says he is primed for action.
“I was on holiday,” he said. “I was in Brazil – yes, beach, Brazilian food, spending time with friends.
“But I was always training – I have a personal trainer – so I was ready. Imagine if I didn’t train and Chelsea called me to come, then it would be more difficult for me.
“If I’m going to start or not, it’s not my decision, but I will try to improve, be ready for (head coach) Enzo (Maresca) and if he needs me we will see.”
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