Chelsea decided to bring Joao Pedro from Brighton in the recently concluded summer transfer window in what was a bold move just weeks after signing Liam Delap at the Bridge. And the Brazilian has wasted about no time making himself at home in West London, given how his on-field antics have brought a lot of excitement to the supporters.
But it is not just his on-field flair. After helping Chelsea to the Club World Cup along the summer, the former Watford star has been named as the Blues Player of the Month for August. It is visible how he has quickly established himself as a key figure in Enzo Maresca’s side.
Joao Pedro names Milner as the most important player he’s worked with…
And in a new interview where he sat down with the Evening Standard, Pedro spoke about his rapid rise and gave an insight into how there is a surprise influence which has helped him. He didn’t turn to the name of a flashy player when he was asked about the most important player he’s worked with. Pedro named… James Milner.
He said:
“At his age, he arrived early in the gym, pushed young players; sometimes maybe a bad thing had happened to him but he was always happy.
“His mentality is why he’s played for so long. I said to him: ‘I want to play for a big club’. He made me promise I would never stop pushing my limits. He is an inspiration. He won everything, and I want to win these titles too. Mentality can be the difference-maker on the pitch.”
The duo spent time together at Brentford, and it shows how the former Liverpool veteran has left a big mark on Pedro. It’s very rare to see a dazzling forward to idolise an Englishman who has grafted in the English top tier for years, but that is exactly what makes this a powerful statement.
Pedro will try to match that professionalism he learnt from Milner and try to build on it.
Author Opinion
We know that Chelsea are not short of gifted forwards in the roster right now, and also if we look back over the years, the ones that have made a difference have had this mentality, a mentality which gives them an ice-cold edge, and this difference between those who succeed and those who fade is exactly what could end up playing positively for Pedro. We have seen how the former Brighton ace has already had an early impact at Stamford Bridge, and if he continues his work ethic, the Blues supporters would be dreaming that he could be one of the rare ones who stick around at Chelsea.
For now, it’s just been a few games, but he has already shown he is a reliable asset to possess, be it playing as a striker or as a second striker.
What do you make of this mentality from Joao Pedro? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
