Joao Pedro credits Rosenior freedom as Chelsea form hits new heights

Joao Pedro has pointed to the tactical freedom he enjoys under Liam Rosenior as a key factor behind his standout debut campaign at Chelsea.

The Brazilian insisted the trust placed in him has allowed him to express himself in attack since arriving from Brighton before last year’s Club World Cup.

Since his arrival, Pedro has been one of Chelsea’s most productive forwards, scoring 14 Premier League goals to sit fourth in the scoring charts while also ranking among the top ten for assists, underlining his all-round attacking influence in his first season in England.

His consistency in front of goal has helped Chelsea maintain momentum across the season, with his versatility allowing him to operate across the front line.

The 24-year-old’s partnership with fellow forwards has also improved Chelsea’s fluidity in transition, making them more unpredictable in the final third. Coaching staff have also praised his work rate off the ball.

“Of course, I’m very happy,” Pedro told chelseafc.com. “I think it’s one of the best seasons of my life. I think the expectations from me were high, so I try to keep my mentality always forward to help my team-mates.

“If I don’t score in one game, Reece (James) and my team-mates come to me and say, ‘Joao, you’ve got to score in the next one!’. I’ll try to keep my stats as high as possible.

“When I joined here, I came here to win trophies and give my best for Chelsea. When I was younger, I was watching the Premier League and my dream was to be one of these players here in England, playing for a big club. Now is my time and I need to enjoy it.”

Pedro added: “I arrived here at Chelsea and it’s completely different with a lot of quality players around me, and that makes my job easier. I try to enjoy when we have the ball, and I try to put the skills I learned in Brazil in my game as well.

“I enjoy a lot my time with Liam (Rosenior) because he gives me the freedom to do what I’m good at.”