Joao Pedro scores against Leeds United.placeholder image
Joao Pedro scores against Leeds United. | AFP via Getty Images
Liam Rosenior is getting the best out of one Chelsea star in particular since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea striker Joao Pedro has been hailed for his transformation under new manager Liam Rosenior by former Premier League defender Jason Cundy.
The Blues paid £60 million to sign the 24-year-old from Brighton last summer and Pedro has gone on to bag 13 goals already this season. The striker has four goals and four assists in his last five Premier League outings and is becoming the key talisman for the side.
Cundy, who came through the Chelsea academy before representing the first team as a player, compared Pedro to Blues legend Didier Drogba. Speaking on talkSPORT, the pundit admitted that he had not expected to see the striker’s growth so quickly since the turn of the year.
Cundy said: “I think he’s probably been the most improved. I genuinely feel that his game has developed since Liam has come in. I don’t know whether that’s down to Liam or if it just coincides with Joao Pedro learning how to play that role better. His hold-up play is something I feel that he didn’t quite have because that’s a hard role.
“The number nine up front on your own, that’s a tough job. Players are now trusting him. When that ball goes in, it bounces off... like Frank Lampard used to do with Didier Drogba. That ball goes in, he knows it’s sticking and will time his run. There’s an element of that going on, we look far more fluid. At the moment, Chelsea’s best number nine is Joao Pedro and I wouldn’t have said three months ago that he would be this player. Hats off, he’s really developed. And he runs in behind as well!”
Liam Rosenior praises ‘really high level’ from Joao Pedro
Pedro now has a combined 21 goals and assists this season and Rosenior has heaped praise on the player, admitting that his style is perfect for the way he wants Chelsea to play.
The Blues boss said: “He’s a top player, he always has been. Speaking to the guys, I know how hard the club worked to bring him here, because he had that potential and he’s now starting to show that. Some of the play, some of the movement and the patterns during the first half were everything I wanted to see. Joao suits the way I want to play down to the ground.
“Even at the end, his energy levels to create the chances for himself in the second half that he did, he’s really unfortunate with the header [that hit the crossbar]. He’s showing an energy, intensity and quality of a really high level.”
In other news, Chelsea could sell £104m and anger Liam Rosenior after 'phenomenal' player's 9/10 performance v Leeds.
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