Joao Pedro has explained the workings of his growing relationship with Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, days after being named EA Sports Premier League Player of the Month for August 2026. The Brazilian has a goal and an assist in each of Chelsea’s games against Fulham, Brighton and Hull City and is continuing the prolific run he found late last season.
That output puts the Blues number 9 at the top of both the scoring and assist charts, with three each from four outings. Alonso’s side have taken just seven points from twelve, losing two more on Saturday when they were held 2-2 by newly promoted Hull at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea had 68% possession but were comprehensively outplayed on expected goals, 1.49 to 0.89.
Joao Pedro reserved a particular reverence for Palmer’s versatility when speaking to club media after collecting the award. He added:
“Cole can score, he can pass, he can score from free-kicks, he can do everything. He’s a different player. That’s what makes him special. I just have to be ready when he gets the ball. I need to be in the right position to make the run, because he’s going to make a brilliant pass, so I have to be ready to score.”
Then the forward discussed the supply lines feeding him:
“Morgan is a very skilful player. We can see he can dribble past two, three guys, and carry the ball. With Cole, I try to always give the ball to his feet. With Morgan it’s more to the space, or to let him in a one-v-one situation. And my job is just to run, and then they’re going to find me!”
He further joked that putting himself at number ten would force him to fight Palmer for positions and that he feels he’s a lot more dangerous in the opposition box.
Xabi Alonso Backs Joao Pedro To Follow In Karim Benzema’s Footsteps
Alonso has given a ringing endorsement of his centre-forward, telling reporters the 24-year-old is up there with the Premier League’s leading strikers. The Spaniard was asked if Joao Pedro was on the same level as Erling Haaland, and he answered in the affirmative.
Then Alonso spoke about a former Real Madrid teammate:
“In many things he reminds me of Benzema. Because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to the left side, he is good with the head. He is very complete and he is intelligent.”
It is a big statement for a player who has come on leaps and bounds since joining from Brighton in a £55m deal, scoring 20 goals in his debut season and winning Player of the Season at Chelsea. His revival has also seen him recalled into Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad after missing out on the World Cup party.
Chelsea’s final act before the long international break sees them at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday with Brentford providing the opposition. The Blues are unbeaten in their last five games against the Bees, but the defensive frailty that has seen them concede in every league game this season needs immediate attention.