Since Liam Rosenior arrived to replace Enzo Maresca as Chelsea manager, Joao Pedro has improved dramatically. Already, he has scored more goals under Rosenior than he did under Maresca.
Pedro has taken his tally in Chelsea colours to 21 goals and nine assists this season, in 42 appearances. But remarkably, the Brazilian has had a hand in 16 goals during 13 of Rosenior’s 15 games as manager.
The former Brighton and Watford man has scored 11 goals and laid on five more in assists since the new gaffer came in. Rosenior says he and Pedro have spent plenty of time discussing things in his office.
How many Premier League goals will Joao Pedro finish the season with? ⚽️
His hat-trick at Villa Park takes him to 14!
Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro scores
Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images
Well, it is clear that whatever Rosenior is doing with Pedro is working. Carlo Ancelotti has already opted to make Pedro his starting striker at the World Cup and now, Pedro says his form is all down to Rosenior.
Joao Pedro says form is all down to Liam Rosenior
Even as a substitute against Wrexham, Pedro was “a level above” anyone else on the pitch, according to Alan Shearer. He scored Chelsea’s fourth to book the Blues’ place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Speaking to UEFA, Pedro says that his form is because of Rosenior’s influence and what the Chelsea manager has got him doing. He believes the conversations he has had are keeping him on his toes.
Rosenior and Pedro.
Photo by Chris Lee – Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
“I believe I’ve been showing good form. When the new manager arrived, we had several conversations. He told me that he already knew who I was and wanted to help me develop,” Pedro said about his manager.
“That’s something I like to hear from a coach because without that feedback, it’s easy to become complacent. I’m a player who always wants to improve, to reach my highest potential level,” he continued.
“I also think that my form is largely down to those conversations, him showing that he genuinely wants to help me improve. When you feel that support from your manager, you naturally push yourself harder.”
Do Chelsea genuinely have their next Didier Drogba, in Pedro?
Over the last 25 years, Chelsea have always had a big-name striker. Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, Hernan Crespo, Didier Drogba, Diego Costa and plenty more. But in recent years, it is something Chelsea lack.
Discuss: Joao Pedro is the new Didier Drogba 🔥
Numbers prior to Wrexham win.
Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain and other strikers have tried and failed. But the £60m man has been immense and is showing the kind of form expected of a striker leading the line in a Chelsea shirt.
More so, Pedro has already surpassed Drogba’s first season in terms of numbers. He has the physicality, the guile, the speed, the personality and the match-winning aura of Drogba. Now, he needs a trophy.
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