Chelsea striker Joao Pedro made an immediate impact in the club’s first pre-season friendly by scoring a rapid hat-trick in a 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers. The Brazilian forward came off the bench in the second half and completed his three-goal burst in just nine minutes, giving new head coach Xabi Alonso an encouraging start to life at Stamford Bridge.

The 24-year-old joined Chelsea from Brighton last year and enjoyed an impressive debut campaign. He finished the season with 20 goals in all competitions and was voted the club’s Player of the Season by Chelsea supporters.

Despite those performances, Joao Pedro was left out of Brazil’s squad for the FIFA World Cup, a decision that has clearly added extra motivation ahead of the new campaign.

Xabi Alonso praises Joao Pedro’s determination

Following the match, Alonso said the Brazilian has shown exceptional commitment throughout pre-season and is eager to build on last year’s success. “He’s very hungry. Joao is really, really determined to have a great season,” said Alonso.

“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,” he added.

Chelsea have strengthened their attacking options with the arrival of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, while reports continue to link several forwards with moves away from the club. However, Joao Pedro appears firmly in Alonso’s plans after his latest display.

Brazilian forward enjoying new role under Alonso

Joao Pedro also spoke positively about working with the former Liverpool midfielder, saying the new manager has given him the freedom to express himself across different attacking positions.

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“He’s a very open coach. We talk a lot. I feel free,” said the Brazilian, who began his career at Fluminense. 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. I want to achieve the highest level possible with the team,” Pedro added.

“I always want to try to score to help my team and hopefully next season can be better than last season,” Pedro further pointed.

His comments underline his ambition to play a leading role as Chelsea look to recover from a disappointing 10th-place Premier League finish.

Liam Delap backed despite quiet outing

While Joao Pedro grabbed the headlines, fellow striker Liam Delap found it difficult to influence the match. The England youth international struggled to create opportunities before being substituted after an hour.

Recent reports have linked Delap with a possible move to Everton, but Alonso dismissed concerns about the striker’s situation. “I see him in a good mood, in a good desire to get proper fitness, proper football, feeling good, and he’s doing well,” he said.

Alonso encouraged despite defensive lapses

Although Chelsea conceded four goals, Alonso viewed the match as a valuable learning experience. He was pleased that his players responded to difficult moments and was also relieved to finish the game without any significant injury concerns.

“The more situations we have where we are struggling and we find the solutions, the better team we will be. So, for that, this friendly will be useful,” he said.

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Chelsea will continue their pre-season preparations with a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday before travelling to Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia for the remaining fixtures of their summer tour.

FAQs

Why was Joao Pedro motivated in Chelsea’s pre-season opener?

Joao Pedro was eager to prove himself after being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad and responded with a hat-trick.

What did Xabi Alonso say about Joao Pedro?

Alonso praised Joao Pedro’s determination, saying the Chelsea striker is “very hungry” and determined to enjoy another strong season.