Xabi hails hungry Joao Pedro after hat-trick as Gittens eyes fresh Chelsea start

Joao Pedro’s nine-minute hat-trick sealed the win in Sydney, continuing the form that saw him score in both the semi-final and final of Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup triumph after his arrival from Brighton last summer. The Brazilian went on to score 20 goals in his debut campaign at Stamford Bridge and was voted the club’s Player of the Season, though the summer brought disappointment when he was left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad.

Alonso, taking charge of his first competitive fixture as Chelsea boss, senses that snub has only sharpened his striker’s appetite.

“He’s very hungry – Joao is really, really determined to have a great season,” the manager said. “He wants to – after a great last year, where he scored many goals – I think that he wants to keep scoring more and more.

“But we need to help him, as on his own it’s not possible. He will have the players around him and they need to have this hunger to score as well.

“It’s not just about the striker, but every time that we win and our striker scores, I am happy.”

Gittens, meanwhile, made it 3-3 with a well-taken finish after being played through by Joao Pedro, a goal that marked another step forward after an injury-hampered first season in west London.

“I’m feeling better now,” Gittens said. “My injuries are healing up now, so I feel really good. I feel in a good space with the team and in my body as well. Of course it has been frustrating, but with God’s grace I got through it, and he pulled me up today, so it’s just great to score a goal. To be back on the pitch with the team was really good.”

The winger also praised the visitors, who scored four goals of their own in an open contest: “Western Sydney Wanderers fought a good game, they did really well. They were very aggressive and on the front foot to score. Scoring four goals, they’ve done a good job against us. For me, to score goals in any game is always a positive. That’s what I want to keep doing in the future as well.”

Gittens singled out Alonso’s early influence on him personally since the Spaniard took charge in July.

“He’s been very hands-on with me, especially,” Gittens explained. “He’s been very – how would I call it – positive towards me. He’s a great coach and a great guy to be around. For him to be giving me advice in these games and training sessions is the best thing for me and for the team as well, especially.

“So I’m grateful that he is our coach.”

With five pre-season fixtures still to come before the Premier League opener at Fulham, four of them on the club’s tour of Asia and Oceania, Gittens stressed the value of an extended block of time together as a group: “It’s great for team spirit, especially to get to know each other again.

“It’s been the whole summer break that we’ve been away from each other, so to be back with them and get some more games and build more confidence is the best thing for us.”

Chelsea face Tottenham next this Saturday at 10.45am UK time, a fixture Gittens is already targeting: “It’s still a derby, so you’ve got to win the game, of course, to get a good feeling out of that. That’ll be a good game for sure.”