Scoring twice against his old team, Joao Pedro feels guilty: 'I'm very grateful, but this is football'

TPO - Joao Pedro did not celebrate after scoring a double against his former team Fluminense to help Chelsea qualify for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final early this morning.

Joao Pedro did not celebrate when he scored.

At MetLife Stadium this morning, new signing Joao Pedro shone brightly with two goals for Chelsea, but he refused to celebrate like a hero. Because those goals came in a special match, against Fluminense, the team that nurtured him, raised him from an unknown boy to a star.

Pedro (23) has only joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion for less than a week. But it didn't take long for him to make his mark. Pedro opened the scoring with a classy finish in the 18th minute. Early in the second half, the Brazilian striker completed his double with another exquisite shot, sealing a 2-0 win and sending the English representative confidently into the FIFA Club World Cup final.

Despite scoring two goals in a major semi-final, Pedro chose to clasp his hands in apology rather than raise his fist in victory. It was his way of showing respect to Fluminense, the place where his football dreams had taken flight and grown. Only after the second goal did Pedro smile, a moment of relief but seemingly tinged with guilt.

“Fluminense gave me everything. They brought me to the light. If I am here today, it is because they believed in me,” Pedro, the match's best player, shared emotionally.

“I'm very grateful, but this is football and I know I have to be professional. I feel sorry for them, but I have to do my job too."

Pedro made his Chelsea debut just four days ago, in a 2-1 win over Palmeiras in the quarter-finals. At that time, he had only had a few training sessions with his teammates. But against Fluminense, coach Enzo Maresca put his faith in him and Pedro did not disappoint.

“Today I started, had more time to show my skills, and I knew I had to score,” said Pedro. “The team played well and won, that's the important thing.”

Chelsea signed Pedro as part of their plans to refresh their attack, just weeks after signing Liam Delap. And now they have a striker who has shone at the right time.

Chelsea's opponents in the final will be the winner of tomorrow morning's clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. The title match will be held at the weekend, also at MetLife Stadium, where Pedro had an unforgettable match.

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Trong Dat

Source: https://tienphong.vn/lap-cu-dup-vao-luoi-doi-bong-cu-joao-pedro-ay-nay-toi-rat-biet-on-nhung-day-la-bong-da-post1758679.tpo