Joao Pedro: “They Pay Me To Score”
Joao Pedro couldn’t have written a better script for his full Chelsea debut. The 23-year-old bagged a brace against Fluminense, his boyhood club, and sent the Blues into the Club World Cup final with a confident 2-0 win in New Jersey.
After the game, Pedro was all smiles, speaking about goals, emotions, professionalism and even a bit of dressing room dancing.
A Dream Debut, Goals Included
The Brazilian didn’t hold back on what the night meant to him.
“I think it was a dream. I don’t think it could have been better. Two goals. Now we need to think about the final. I am very happy to score two goals today.”
He wasn’t just scoring goals, he was scoring them against a club he grew up in. But the professional in him knew the job had to be done.
“I am happy to score my first goal for Chelsea but also I know this tournament is very important for Fluminense. I can just say sorry but I have to be professional. I play for Chelsea. They pay me to score goals and today I was happy to score.”
No mixed emotions there. Cold. Clinical. Classy.
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Getting the Start and Making It Count
Pedro revealed he was told to play just like he did in his cameo last match. Safe to say he took the message and ran with it.
“He just said to me to play the same as I did in the last game. Because I had more time to do my stuff, I was happy to score, the team won, the team played well and that is important.”
Eyes Already on the Final
Even with the spotlight on him, Pedro’s already thinking about the next challenge—the final on Sunday.
“I try to improve every session but I know it is hard. They helped me as well. Now I need to rest, focus on the final because I think it will be a very important game.”
He also acknowledged what a win would mean, especially given how quickly everything’s happened since his arrival.
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“It would be my first title as well. I think it will be a very important game, a very special game. I came one week ago and now I am going to play a final. I am very happy. The team have been very welcoming me and now we need to move forward.”
Dressing Room Vibes and No Initiation Song Yet
Pedro also confirmed he’s yet to sing in front of the squad but that didn’t spare him from some first-day hazing.
“No, no, no. They just made me dance in the dressing room. I don’t know if they will make me dance again because I got man-of-the-match but the group is very good, they helped me a lot and I feel comfortable here.”
Enzo Maresca on Pedro: “We Know He Can Do This”
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was unsurprisingly pleased with his new signing’s impact, and stressed the importance of setting players up to succeed in big moments.
“We know that we have players that are able to do that and we know we have to help them get in situations where they can do that and we know Joao can do this.”
With that kind of support, and a debut brace under his belt, Pedro is off to the best possible start in blue.
