PRESSURE TO SUCCEED QUICKLY
Chelsea's attack force next season is expected to have at least 9 players of equal ability. In addition to Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and Cole Palmer, Chelsea have strengthened Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap in the current transfer window. Coach Enzo Maresca has not denied the possibility of continuing to shop, if a quality striker appears on the transfer market.
Joao Pedro (left) plays well for Chelsea
Photo: Reuters
The reality is stark: any player on this list of attackers would have to make a clear, even immediate, impression to have any hope of competing for a place in the starting lineup. This is the most important detail to discuss about Joao Pedro's goals in the Club World Cup semi-finals.
Less than ten days ago, Joao Pedro was still in his hometown for the summer, relaxing on the beach in Rio de Janeiro. He was informed on July 2 that he had completed his transfer from Brighton to Chelsea, just in time for the deadline to register additional players before the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup. Pedro immediately flew to the US for a health check. By July 4, people saw Pedro coming off the bench. Pedro's more than 30 minutes of play in the quarter-final match (Chelsea beat Palmeiras 2-1) were considered "impressive" by experts. But the real impression came on July 8 - that is, less than a week after completing the transfer. Pedro started and scored both goals, helping Chelsea beat Fluminense 2-0 to reach the Club World Cup final.
Pedro's contract cost £55 million. Chelsea "recovered" £15 million when they beat Palmeiras, then got another £20 million when they beat Fluminense. If they overcome the final hurdle, PSG in the final, Chelsea will get another £30 million. And if Pedro succeeds in that match, Chelsea will not only "recover the capital" but also make a net profit with the contract named Joao Pedro. All of this happened in 12 days (from the completion of the transfer contract on July 2 to the final on July 13)!
Is the first impression destiny?
Pedro’s first goal – a stunning strike into the top corner against Fluminense – came just 18 minutes into the game. The second was a powerful, confident strike. Pedro didn’t celebrate either, as Fluminense were the club that had introduced him to football . They were goals of great beauty, both in their technical and emotional qualities. Now Chelsea fans were anxiously awaiting another kind of beauty: Pedro celebrating explosively when he scored in the final against the best team in the world.
A few years ago, English club Watford reached an agreement to buy Pedro before he had even played a game for Fluminense. The transfer was announced in 2018, although Pedro did not make his first appearance in English football until 2020.
It seems like fate, when the first success always comes to Pedro "impressively". The goals that brought Chelsea to the Club World Cup final happened in Pedro's first start. The first goal for Watford came on his 19th birthday. Pedro helped Watford get promoted. And when he scored his first goal in the Premier League, it was the goal that ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's career at MU. Immediately after losing 1-4 to Watford, MU announced the sacking of the head coach. Brighton bought Pedro back for the highest transfer fee in the club's history. And Pedro scored for Brighton in his first appearance, in the friendly match at the beginning of the season (against... Chelsea), as well as in the opening round of the Premier League.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chelsea-trung-so-khi-mua-duoc-pedro-185250710222454315.htm
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