‘He’s a top player’ – Liam Rosenior lavishes praise on Pedro after Villa masterclass

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior heaped praise on Joao Pedro following an emphatic 4-1 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park on Wednesday night, with the Brazilian striker producing a hat-trick to underline his growing influence at the club.

Pedro was the standout performer, while Cole Palmer added Chelsea’s fourth to complete a comprehensive win that showcased the depth and cohesion of Rosenior’s squad.

After the match, Rosenior highlighted Pedro’s all-round contribution beyond the goals.

“He’s a top player. I think he’s growing in confidence. His hold-up play, the energy he puts into the team in terms of his press, his movement,” Rosenior said. He singled out Pedro’s first goal, a superb finish with his left foot, as “world-class,” but also emphasised the importance of the striker’s positioning in securing the two tap-ins.

“He was in the right place at the right time, we’ve worked hard with him on that,” he added, noting that while Pedro claimed the hat-trick, the victory was built on a collective effort.

Rosenior reserved further praise for Chelsea’s supporting cast, particularly Alejandro Garnacho, whose performance reflected both talent and professionalism.

“He’s really impressed me in the last few weeks and he’s impressed me the most when he’s been out of the team, because his reaction to being out of the team, his professionalism, the intensity that he’s trained at, it’s no coincidence that he’s gone and performed like that today,” the manager said.