Chelsea hit £60m transfer jackpot and four-word cry for help says it all

In what has been an extremely underwhelming season for Chelsea, there is one glimmer of hope for the Blues after striking a £60million deal last summer

“We need to improve,” said a glum Joao Pedro, in what almost seemed like a cry for help in the immediate aftermath of Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday afternoon.

The Blues’ sixth defeat on the bounce in the Premier League in another gloomy day for the west Londoners at Stamford Bridge. Joao Pedro provided the only positive in the match from a Chelsea point of view when, with 93 minutes on the clock, he produced a mesmerising bicycle kick from close range. Yet it proved a mere consolation as the few supporters remaining inside the stadium booed the players off – an occurrence that has become far too common, but understandably so.

“Everyone needs to step up, me included,” Joao Pedro added, although he is one of the only players in the Chelsea dressing room who has played well in recent times. “We always talk to each other to find a way to win games. Last week, we beat Leeds, this week, it didn’t happen. We need to find a way to be consistent.

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“I think the motivation is always there. We still need to fight for every point, every game, and in the end, we can see what we can achieve.”

Joao Pedro’s astonishing acrobatics in stoppage time saw him grab his 20th goal of the season for Chelsea in all competitions in his debut season at Stamford Bridge. The Blues brought the Brazil international to the club for a total package of £60million, sources said at the time, but his signing raised a few eyebrows.

The 24-year-old, who will be hoping to lead the line for Brazil in this summer’s World Cup, had experience of scoring goals in England, but had never managed more than 10 in the Premier League. At the first time of trying for the Blues, Joao Pedro has 15 goals to his name in the top-flight, with three remaining games to add to it as well.

Plenty have criticised BlueCo’s transfer business since they bought the club four years ago – and rightly so – but when it comes to Joao Pedro, they hit the jackpot. Enzo Maresca was Chelsea’s head coach when the Brazilian arrived at the club and the Italian consistently said he didn’t see the versatile forward in a specific position; but someone who could occupy various roles across the front line.

The majority of Joao Pedro’s time at Stamford Bridge, though, has seen him lead the line for the Blues. We have occasionally seen him drop back into the No.10 role but his season has been predominantly as the focal point for the west Londoners.

While it is not his natural position, Joao Pedro has taken to being the main man seamlessly. Liam Delap, an out-and-out centre-forward, has been the opposite.

In the Premier League this season, only Erling Haaland (25) and Igor Thiago (22) have more goals than Joao Pedro (15). And only those two (Haaland 32 and Thiago 23), plus Bruno Fernandes (27), have more combined goals and assists in the top-flight this season than the Chelsea forward (20).

Joao Pedro has also outscored his 14.19 xG this term in the league. The Brazilian tops the chart – in the Premier League – from a Chelsea perspective in all of the below attacking statistics:

Goals

João Pedro – 15

Cole Palmer – 9

Enzo Fernandez – 8

Assists

João Pedro – 5

Pedro Neto, Reece James, Alejandro Garnacho and Marc Cucurella – 4

Goals + Assists

João Pedro – 20

Enzo Fernandez – 11

Cole Palmer – 10

Total Shots

Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandez – 68

Cole Palmer – 58

Pedro Neto – 44

Shots on Target

João Pedro – 28

Enzo Fernandez – 28

Cole Palmer – 22

Touches in Opposition Box

João Pedro – 137

Alejandro Garnacho – 112

Pedro Neto – 102

xG

João Pedro – 14.19

Enzo Fernandez – 10.94

Cole Palmer – 10.14

Big Chances

João Pedro – 25

Enzo Fernandez – 14

Cole Palmer – 13

There was a spell where Joao Pedro’s level dropped slightly and Liam Rosenior, to his credit, helped get the Brazilian firing again. During Rosenior’s less-than-four-month tenure as head coach, the forward scored 12 goals in 19 appearances across all competitions.

Not only has Joao Pedro scored goals, but his all-round attacking play has been tremendous. Against Leeds United last month, we got to see the best of the Brazilian forward’s hold-up play and his ability to bring his teammates into the play high up the pitch.

His work ethic is phenomenal and he often leads the press for Chelsea. Truly, he should be an inspiration to his colleagues in the final weeks of the season. If Chelsea had more Joao Pedro’s, they would be in a much better position this season.