Chelsea forward João Pedro has explained how trust, minutes and clear communication with the new coaching staff have been central to his recent rise in form, at a decisive point of the season.
Speaking to Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte, he admitted that a World Cup year brings extra pressure, especially after a change on the touchline. João Pedro said he addressed the situation directly with the new head coach, stressing the importance of regular minutes.
“It is a World Cup year, and with a new coach there is always that concern,” he said.“I had been playing regularly under Maresca, then there was the change. When Liam arrived, I was one of the first players to speak with him.”
João Pedro explained that he made his priorities clear from the start.“One of the points I raised was that it is a World Cup year and that I needed to play, because I represent the Brazilian national team,”he said.“There are many great players, and I needed minutes.”
According to the forward, the response was immediate.“I told him that if he gave me the minutes, I would respond on the pitch,”João Pedro added.“He has given me a lot of confidence since his arrival.”
He stressed how competition for places adds weight to every appearance.“In my position with the Brazilian national team, there are many players who want to be there,”he said.“The competition is fierce. But thankfully things have been going well. I have been getting minutes, a good run of games, and doing what I can on the pitch.”
João Pedro believes that trust from the bench has been decisive.“Since his arrival, he has been giving me a lot of confidence,”he said.“When you know the coach trusts you that much, there is always something extra when you are playing.”
That confidence has translated into numbers. Since Liam Rosenior took charge at Chelsea, João Pedro has scored five goals and provided one assist in six matches. Over the past week, he was decisive in comeback wins against Napoli, in the Champions League, and West Ham, in the Premier League.
Champions League dreams fulfilled
Reflecting on his Champions League performance in Italy, João Pedro linked the moment to childhood dreams.“I think the dream of every kid is to play in the Champions League,” he said. “When you hear that anthem and see the shirt you are wearing, it was a night of inspiration.”
He also pointed to a lack of continuity earlier in the competition.“I did not have much continuity under Maresca in the Champions League,”he explained.“But it was always one of my dreams to play the competition and to have a night like the one I had.”
Turning to his impact against West Ham, João Pedro revealed a key moment at half-time.“In the first half the coach spoke to me and said, ‘Be ready, I will put you on after the break’,”he said.“In two games we started by losing, and I was able to be the protagonist and help the team.”
World Cup in a familiar spot
Only then did João Pedro connect his current form to a longer-term ambition. The forward was part of Chelsea’s Club World Cup triumph last year and scored in the final against Paris Saint-Germain at MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey. The same stadium is set to host the World Cup final in 2026.
“I hope I can lift the World Cup trophy there,” he said.“It is a stadium that is already marked in my memory and in my history. Hopefully it can happen again.”
Despite the momentum, João Pedro insisted there is still more to come.“I am very happy with my performances, but I am not satisfied yet,”he concluded.“The team expects a lot from me, the coach trusts me, and I need to keep working with my feet on the ground.”
For now, the focus remains on consistency, minutes and performances – with bigger goals firmly in sight.