Chelsea’s Brazilian forward Joao Pedro demonstrated his scoring prowess with a quick hat-trick during the team’s opening pre-season fixture under new manager Xabi Alonso, signaling his determination to build on a promising first season at Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old former Brighton striker netted three goals within nine minutes as a second-half substitute in Chelsea’s 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday.
Joao Pedro, who scored 20 goals across all competitions last season and was named Chelsea’s player of the season by supporters, was not selected for Brazil’s recent World Cup squad. Alonso said the omission has fueled the striker’s motivation heading into the new campaign. “He’s very hungry. Joao is really, really determined to have a great season,” Alonso said. “After a great last year where he scored many goals, I think he wants to keep scoring more and more. But we need to help him, as on his own it’s not possible.”
Alonso emphasized the importance of team dynamics in supporting Joao Pedro’s success, noting that scoring goals is a collective effort beyond just the striker. Chelsea recently added attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa and are reportedly considering offloading some forwards, but Joao Pedro appears secure in his role.
The Brazilian striker praised Alonso’s open coaching style and tactical flexibility, describing a sense of freedom in his play under the former Liverpool star. “When I play in front I move a lot, so he gives that option for me. Sometimes I can play on the left, sometimes in the middle. So that’s what I’ve learned from him,” Joao Pedro said. He expressed his ambition to reach the highest level with Chelsea and improve on last season’s performances.
While Joao Pedro impressed, fellow striker Liam Delap struggled to make a significant impact during the match and was substituted after 60 minutes. Despite links to a potential transfer to Everton, Alonso defended Delap’s progress, describing the young England international as “doing well” and focused on fitness and form.
Alonso’s debut as Chelsea manager was marked by some defensive vulnerabilities and signs of early-season rustiness, but he found the friendly encouraging overall. He noted the importance of facing challenges to build a stronger team. “The more situations we have where we are struggling and we find the solutions, the better team we will be,” he said. Chelsea will continue their pre-season tour with a high-profile friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday, followed by matches in Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia.