Xabi Alonso impressed by ‘very hungry’ Joao Pedro after Chelsea hat-trick

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has praised Joao Pedro’s determination after the Brazilian striker scored a rapid hat-trick in the Blues’ opening pre-season friendly, describing the 24-year-old as “very hungry” ahead of the new campaign.

Joao Pedro, who joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion last summer, enjoyed an outstanding debut season at Stamford Bridge, scoring 20 goals in all competitions and being voted the club’s Player of the Season by supporters.

Despite those impressive performances, the Brazilian was left out of Brazil’s squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, something Alonso believes has only fuelled his motivation.

The striker made an instant impact in Tuesday’s 6-4 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, coming off the bench at half-time before scoring a remarkable nine-minute hat-trick.

“He’s very hungry – Joao is really, really determined to have a great season,” Alonso told reporters.

“After a great last year where he scored many goals, I think he wants to keep scoring more and more. But we need to help him because he can’t do it alone.

“He’ll have players around him, and they also need that hunger to score. It’s not just about the striker, but whenever we win and our striker scores, I’m happy.”

Joao Pedro embracing life under Alonso

Following the arrival of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, Chelsea are expected to reshape their attacking options before the transfer window closes. However, Joao Pedro is not among the players expected to leave west London.

The Brazilian says he has quickly adapted to life under Alonso, praising the Spaniard’s communication and tactical flexibility.

“He’s a very open coach. We talk a lot. I feel free,” said Joao Pedro.

“When I play up front, I like to move around a lot, and he gives me that freedom. Sometimes I can play on the left, sometimes through the middle. That’s something I’ve learned from him.

“I want to achieve the highest level possible with the team. I always want to score goals to help the team, and hopefully next season will be even better than the last one.”

Liam Delap backed despite quiet display

While Joao Pedro stole the headlines, fellow striker Liam Delap endured a quieter outing.

The England youth international struggled to make an impact in a youthful Chelsea side before being substituted after an hour. Delap has recently been linked with a move to Everton, but Alonso insisted he remains pleased with the striker’s progress.

“I see him in a good mood and with a real desire to improve his fitness and sharpness,” Alonso said.

“He’s feeling good, and he’s doing well.”

Chelsea continue preparations

Despite acknowledging some defensive lapses and understandable signs of early pre-season rust, Alonso was satisfied with his first match in the Chelsea dugout, particularly as the team came through the contest without any significant injuries.

“The more situations we have where we’re struggling and we find solutions, the better team we’ll become,” Alonso said.

“So, in that sense, this friendly was very useful.”

Chelsea’s pre-season tour continues on Saturday with a meeting against Tottenham Hotspur in Sydney before further fixtures in Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia.