Chelsea secured a 6-4 friendly victory against Western Sydney Wanderers, with Joao Pedro scoring a late hat-trick after coming on as a substitute. The match saw the Australian A-League side lead three times, including a 4-3 advantage with ten minutes remaining, before Joao Pedro’s nine-minute treble sealed the win for the Blues.
Other goalscorers for Chelsea included Dastan Satpaev, Dario Essugo, and Jamie Gittens. The game marked manager Xabi Alonso’s first in front of fans since his appointment this summer. He started a young side in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with more experienced players like Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Estevao, and Levi Colwill entering the match in the second half.
Joao Pedro’s drive and manager’s impact
Xabi Alonso commented on Joao Pedro’s performance, stating that the forward returned to pre-season “hungry to have a great season.” Alonso noted that Joao Pedro is “really, really determined to have a great season” and wants to continue scoring after a productive previous year. He emphasised the need for team support, saying, “we need to help him, as on his own it’s not possible.”
Joao Pedro, who joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £60million deal last summer, scored 20 goals in 50 games last season. Despite his performance, he was not included in Brazil’s World Cup squad by former Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti, which led to disappointment at the end of the campaign.
The 24-year-old Brazilian striker, who was named player of the season by club supporters for his 20 goals across all competitions in his first season at Stamford Bridge, expressed his desire to achieve the highest level possible with the team. He also shared his positive experience working under Alonso, describing him as a “very open coach.”
Joao Pedro explained that he feels “free” under Alonso’s guidance, particularly regarding his movement on the pitch. He highlighted the flexibility he is given, stating, “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.” He added, “I always want to try to score to help my team and hopefully next season can be better than last season.”
Pre-season insights and upcoming fixtures
Alonso found the friendly in Sydney to be a useful learning experience for the team. He noted that there were moments when the team struggled to find solutions, which he considered positive as it allowed for correction and growth in game management. He explained, “When they were pressing so high, it was tough to find the solution from inside, to have a different understanding of what’s happening, and to make those changes in the game.”
The manager believes that encountering and resolving such situations will make the team stronger. He praised the intensity of Western Sydney Wanderers, stating they “had a real go” and played “really intense,” which provided valuable lessons for Chelsea. Alonso also mentioned that the conditions made it challenging to control the game, but the team would learn from the experience.
The match also saw Sydney-born midfielder Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli, who is 16, start for the Blues. Alonso commended his performance, saying, “He understood very well, what the team needed. He’s a very complete player, so for sure it’s a great prospect of player that we have for the future. We need to help him.”
While Joao Pedro excelled, fellow striker Liam Delap was observed to struggle up front in the youthful team before being replaced after 60 minutes. Despite reports linking Delap with a move to Everton, Alonso insisted that the England youth international was “doing well” and showed “a good desire to get proper fitness.”
Alonso expressed satisfaction that there were no significant injuries during his first match in the Chelsea dugout, despite some defensive frailties and early season rust. The pre-season tour for Chelsea continues with a friendly against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney on Saturday, followed by matches in Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
The manager is tasked with improving Chelsea’s performance after their 10th place finish last season. The team is reportedly considering offloading some forwards following the arrival of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, though Joao Pedro is expected to remain with the club. The upcoming fixtures will provide further opportunities for the squad to develop under their new coach.
Source: southlondon.co.uk
Freya Donnelly is the Sports Reporter at News-UK, covering tennis, cricket and athletics with seven years of reporting experience. She reported on Team GB through an Olympic cycle. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Brighton and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Brighton, she plays club cricket in the summer. “Listening is the most underrated skill in sports reporting.”
