Chelsea forward João Pedro has credited manager Xabi Alonso’s tactical approach and the freedom he has been given for his strong start to the new Premier League season.
The Brazilian attacker has quickly become an important part of Alonso’s plans, making a notable impact in the final third with his goals, assists and movement around the opposition box.
According to João Pedro, Alonso has encouraged Chelsea’s attacking players to remain focused throughout matches while giving them the freedom to express themselves in the final third.
He said:
“Everyone wants to score, and Xabi (Alonso) tells us always, it doesn’t matter what happens, you just need to be focused and be connected to the game and you’re going to score. That’s why we score many goals this season from the beginning, because I think in the front three you can create a lot. And if you create a lot, you’re going to score a lot of goals as well.”
That attacking freedom has allowed João Pedro to make better use of his movement and positioning, while also giving him more opportunities to get into dangerous areas.
The 24-year-old has also benefited from the understanding he is developing with Chelsea’s other attacking players, particularly Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers. Their ability to interchange positions and combine in the final third has added another dimension to Chelsea’s attack.
João Pedro’s early-season performances have already earned him individual recognition, underlining the impact he has made since the campaign began.
With the forward appearing increasingly comfortable in Alonso’s system, Chelsea will be looking to him to maintain that momentum as the season progresses and the club continues its pursuit of major honours.