Joao Pedro Watford
Joao Pedro, who joined Chelsea during the summer transfer window, ended his goal drought with a crucial strike against Tottenham Hotspur. The Brazilian forward had not scored since August but found the back of the net in the 34th minute, securing a vital victory for Chelsea at North London. This win marked Chelsea’s fifth consecutive victory at Tottenham, helping them recover from a recent 2-1 home defeat to Sunderland.
Pedro said: “Moses, everyone knows is a top, top player. It is a pleasure to play with him and when he pass to me on the pitch, in the half-time I said I need to invite you to dinner, so yeah I just want to say thank you to him. Thanks to the team for the support. I scored but I still need to improve. I had a lot of chances, but we won the game. I think I needed this goal after a long time I don’t score for Chelsea and I think the team expect (goals) from me, so I just want to say thank you to Moses, thank you to the team and now we need to enjoy this victory.”
Pedro’s goal was set up by Moises Caicedo, who won the ball from Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven, allowing Pedro to score. This goal was significant for Pedro, who has been struggling with fitness issues that have affected his training. The victory was crucial for Chelsea as it helped regain momentum for Enzo Maresca’s young squad, who are preparing for a midweek Champions League match against Qarabag and a weekend fixture against Wolves.
Pedro added: “I think it was a big game, a derby and we know they are a good team. We knew we had to do 100 per cent to win this kind of game and we did. We won the game and now we need to look forward.”
On the other hand, Tottenham manager Thomas Frank faces mounting challenges, particularly in attack. Tottenham recorded an expected goals (XG) total of 0.05, their lowest since the 2012-13 season. Adding to Frank’s woes, Lucas Bergvall is likely to miss the upcoming clash with FC Copenhagen due to a suspected concussion sustained during the Chelsea match.
The Tottenham manager explained: “That was a concussion, so he totally couldn’t stay on and I think the medical team did a good job in that aspect. And even if he wanted to stay on, it’s the right decision.”
Chelsea’s victory has not only boosted their morale but also highlighted the potential of their talented, albeit inexperienced, squad. Meanwhile, Tottenham must address their attacking deficiencies to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
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