London, 13 October (H.S.): Chelsea forward João Pedro has lavished praise on teammate Cole Palmer, describing him as a complete player capable of doing almost everything on the football pitch. Pedro said Palmer has the ability to score goals, provide assists and convert free-kicks. He also praised Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso’s winning mentality and the team’s attacking approach.

Speaking in an interview with JioStar, Pedro said, “Cole Palmer is a fantastic player. He can score goals, provide assists and score from free-kicks. He can do everything. He is a complete player, and that is what makes him special. He scored some outstanding goals in our matches against Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion. I do not know how he managed to do that, but that is what Cole Palmer is capable of. That is why everyone considers him a special player.”

Chelsea are scheduled to face Everton in the Premier League on October 17. Everton, currently fifth in the standings, and sixth-placed Chelsea will be looking to strengthen their positions in the table. Pedro has played an important role for Chelsea this season and is among the club’s leading scorers, with five goals to his name.

Pedro Impressed by Alonso’s Winning Mentality

Pedro also praised Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso for his approach to managing the team, highlighting his open communication with players and his understanding of their mindset.

“Our coach, Xabi Alonso, communicates very openly with us because he has played football himself and understands our mentality. From our very first meeting, we could see how passionate he is about the game. He wants to win every match possible. That is very good for us because we share the same mentality and are moving forward with the same ambition,” Pedro said.

Understanding Palmer and Morgan Rogers Is Key to Chelsea’s Attack

Discussing his role in Chelsea’s attacking setup alongside Palmer and Morgan Rogers, Pedro explained that he adapts his game to complement the strengths of his teammates. He said he tries to play the ball to Palmer’s feet while looking to release Rogers into open space.

“My role in the forward line is quite simple. Whenever I see Palmer, I try to get the ball to his feet. He always finds a way to get the ball past the goalkeeper. With Morgan Rogers, I try to play the ball into space so that he can take on a defender one-on-one. After beating the defender, he passes the ball to me, and my job is to make the right run and get into the right position. If I do that, they will find me with the pass, and then it is my responsibility to put the ball into the net,” he said.

Pedro stressed that Chelsea’s goal-scoring ability does not depend on any single player. While Palmer, Rogers and Pedro himself contribute in attack, midfielders and defenders also pose a threat, particularly from set-pieces.

“Every player in the team wants to score goals. Xabi always tells us that, whatever happens, we must stay focused and remain involved in the game. That is when the goals will come. This is why we have scored so many goals since the beginning of the season,” Pedro said.

“Our attacking trio can create a lot of chances, and the more chances we create, the greater our chances of scoring. It is not about one particular player. We can threaten the opposition from different areas, which makes it difficult for other teams to defend against us. As long as we continue creating opportunities, I am confident the goals will keep coming,” he added.

Pedro Calls Caicedo One of the World’s Best in His Position

Pedro also highlighted the importance of Chelsea midfielder Moisés Caicedo, praising his ability to cover large areas of the pitch, win back possession and create opportunities for his teammates to attack.

“For me, Moisés is the best player in the world in his position. He is like a machine. He covers a tremendous amount of ground in midfield and wins the ball back for us time and again. That allows the rest of us to push forward and attack with greater freedom,” Pedro said.

“When he is on the pitch, we feel more secure as a team because we know he is there to protect the back four. That is why he is so important to us,” he added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar