Chelsea attacker talks Drogba comparisons, World Cup pressure and relationship with Cole Palmer

Chelsea’s season has often felt unstable around João Pedro. There have been coaching changes, inconsistent results and periods where the squad looked far from complete.

Yet through that turbulence, one thing has become increasingly clear: the Brazilian is starting to shape both the attack and the conversation around the club.

Over the past few weeks, João Pedro has spoken openly about his role at Chelsea, his ambitions with the national team and the pressure attached to wearing the famous No.9 shirt.

Across multiple interviews in Brazil, with TNT Sports and Lance!the 24-year-old offered perhaps the clearest explanation yet of how he sees himself as a player – and why his Chelsea move mattered so much to him.

Redefined as a ‘nine’

For years, João Pedro moved between positions. At Watford he played deeper and often wider. At Brighton he alternated between attacking roles. Chelsea, though, became the place where he decided to fully commit to becoming a centre-forward.

“Since I arrived at Chelsea, I made it very clear because at Watford I played as a No.10, as a No.9. At Brighton too. But since coming here, it’s something I pushed for a lot – I wanted to play only as a No.9.”

That decision was not about ego or status. Instead, it was about rhythm and development.

“When you keep changing positions, you lose some of the feeling for the role. Since the start of the season, I’ve been working a lot with Chelsea’s staff, always trying to improve in some aspects.”

That work has paid off.

“I feel better playing as a striker, close to goal. But I’m not that striker who just stands waiting inside the box. I like participating in the game,” he said. “I’m a participative No.9. I can build play and score a lot of goals too.”

That description explains why he frequently references players like Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski when discussing his development.

“Today, I really like Kane and Lewandowski. I followed Kane more because of the Premier League and I take a lot of inspiration from him.”

He even admitted to studying Kane closely after facing him.

“When I played against Kane, I paid a lot of attention to him. We swapped shirts too. He’s a player I admire and I hope to reach his level.”

Why Chelsea may finally have clarity

Despite Chelsea’s uneven campaign, João Pedro himself believes there is far more to come.

“This season has been very good for me. Better than I think a lot of people expected because it’s my first season.”

He also admitted adaptation was never guaranteed.

“We know there’s always an adaptation period, new teammates, a new club.”

That process became even more complicated with Chelsea’s instability during the campaign.

“Unfortunately we’re living through a difficult moment, changing manager, not winning as much,” he admitted. “But I think when Chelsea improve, this can be just the beginning of a very good period to reach the highest level possible.”

That balance also appeared when he was asked about comparisons with Didier Drogba after surpassing the Ivorian’s first-season Chelsea goal tally.

“Drogba is an idol at Chelsea. Some fans joke: ‘Maybe we found the new Drogba?’ But I try to go my own way, slowly, without thinking too much about that.”

Instead, João Pedro seems far more focused on long-term progression. That also explains his growing role with Brazil.

Handling Brazil’s pressure

The Chelsea forward knows exactly what comes with being Brazil’s number nine. The position still carries enormous expectation. João Pedro accepts that pressure exists, but avoids pretending anyone can replicate Ronaldo’s legacy.

“I think comparing any player to Ronaldo is impossible.”

Still, he does not shy away from the responsibility either.

“If I can be Brazil’s No.9 at a World Cup, it would be an honour. I would give my life and give my maximum to represent in the best way possible.”

Of course, Carlo Ancelotti appears to value João Pedro’s ability. The Chelsea player himself admitted the Italian prefers forwards capable of dropping deeper and connecting play.

“Today it’s not really that fixed No.9 anymore. It’s more someone with mobility, someone who drops to play.”

Conveniently for Chelsea, that is exactly the profile João Pedro has been trying to become all season.

His recent international appearances have been relatively short, including a 23-minute cameo against France in a 2-1 defeat. However, his standing within the squad continues to grow.

Inside Chelsea’s dressing room

One revealing part of João Pedro’s recent interviews involved Chelsea’s internal dynamic.

The Brazilian described a dressing room full of international rivalries, jokes and constant World Cup conversations.

Cole Palmer, for example, is already discussing a possible Brazil vs England quarter-final.

“He goes crazy if I don’t say England are favourites”, he joked. “He really wants Brazil vs England in the quarter-finals.”

Response from João Pedro? “I told him: ‘Careful, huh? Be careful.’”

There were similar stories involving Enzo Fernández and Argentina. Still, beyond the banter, João Pedro repeatedly highlighted the closeness within Chelsea’s squad.

That support system appears especially important for Estêvão, who recently suffered an injury setback.

“I already said in other interviews that Estêvão impressed me a lot.”

The reason was not just technical quality.

“When he arrived, I didn’t expect someone his age to already think like he thinks.”

João Pedro then explained how the entire squad has embraced Estêvão.

“I and Andrey try to help him as much as possible. But everyone at Chelsea treats Estêvão like a younger brother.”

That included a revealing detail from the day of the injury.

“When he got injured, I stayed next to him in the dressing room for the whole first half, talking to him”he revealed. “Enzo, Pedro Neto, Cucurella, Caicedo… everyone tries to support him.”

Moments like that help explain why João Pedro’s influence at Chelsea now goes beyond goals.

Goals, pressure and battles

Despite his strong campaign, João Pedro admitted he still demands much more from himself.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself. Not only with Brazil, but also at my club.”

Apparently, his teammates do the same.

“Reece James, when I go one match without scoring, already says the next one has to come.”

The striker is still waiting for his first Brazil goal, and he admitted the near-miss against Croatia still sticks in his mind.

“I had one chance against Croatia, but the goalkeeper made a great save”he said. “But it’s only a matter of time.”

He also offered an interesting insight into which defenders caused him the most problems this season.

“Pacho from PSG was difficult. Tah from Bayern. And Gabriel Magalhães”he stated before highlighting: “But I gave him problems too!”

There was also time to revisit perhaps his most spectacular Chelsea moment so far – the overhead kick that immediately spread across social media.

“It happened out of nowhere. I thought very quickly. In football there’s no time to think. It just came out.”

What happens next

The World Cup remains in the background of everything. “That’s every player’s dream”, he said.

João Pedro admitted there is anxiety around Carlo Ancelotti’s final squad list, even among players who already feel close to secure.

“Everyone has that anxiety because we know how big the World Cup is for Brazil.”

Still, he is trying not to obsess over it.

“I try to focus on my work at the club because that gives me the best chance of being in the final squad.”

And perhaps most importantly for Chelsea, João Pedro now sounds like a player fully convinced he belongs at this level.