Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior says striker Joao Pedro belongs in the same “category” as world‑class forwards Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe.
The 24‑yr‑previous Brazil worldwide scored a hat‑trick in Wednesday’s 4-1 win at Aston Villa, taking his tally to 17 objectives in all competitions this season.
None of his 14 Premier League objectives this season have come from the penalty spot and solely Haaland, with 19, has scored extra non‑penalty objectives in England’s prime flight this season, whereas throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues Kane leads the best way on that foundation with 20 for Bayern Munich, and Mbappe has 15 for Real Madrid.
Asked whether or not Joao Pedro is working at such a stage, Rosenior instructed reporters: “Joao is in that category now. In the two months I’ve been here, he has consistently shown he is a world‑class striker.
“I speak about my gamers; it is disrespectful to Erling to check them. I do not know Erling very effectively, however from the surface he appears a powerful, world‑class striker.
“I wouldn’t swap Joao for anyone at this moment – he is showing all the qualities and attributes I want to see.
“The good thing for Joao is his age – he can nonetheless enhance, and I’ve already observed a number of areas the place he can get higher. But the extent he is working at now’s world class, and it is my job, the membership’s job and his job to maintain him there.”
Chelsea, who face Wrexham in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, are looking for Joao Pedro to become their first out-and-out striker to reach 20 goals in a season since Diego Costa in 2016-17.
They have had two gamers attain that tally in the intervening years, with deep-mendacity ahead Cole Palmer scoring 25 in the 2023-24 season, 5 years after Eden Hazard hit 21 as a winger.
