NewzChelsea's Joao Pedro (centre) celebrates his third goal against Western Sydney Wanderers in a pre-season match at Accor Stadium in Sydney. (EPA Images pic)SYDNEY: Chelsea's Brazilian striker Joao Pedro is "very hungry" after his World Cup snub, with a quick-fire hattrick in the team's opening pre-season game impressing new manager Xabi Alonso.The 24-year-old was snapped up from Brighton a year ago and scored 20 goals across all competitions in his first season at Stamford Bridge to be named player of the season by club supporters.But his penalty-box prowess was not enough to book a spot in Brazil's World Cup squad.Alonso said that Joao Pedro, who bagged a nine-minute hattrick as a second-half substitute in Chelsea's 6-4 win over Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday, had been fired up in training."He's very hungry - Joao is really, really determined to have a great season," said Alonso."After a great last year where he scored many goals, I think that he wants to keep scoring more and more. But we need to help him, as on his own it's not possible."He will have the players around him and they need to have this hunger to score as well.
It's not just about the striker, but every time that we win and our striker scores, I am happy."Chelsea are reportedly looking to offload some forwards after the arrival of attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, but Joao Pedro will almost certainly not be one of them.He said he felt liberated playing under former Liverpool star Alonso, who is tasked with getting Chelsea back to the top after their disappointing 10th place last season."He's a very open coach. I feel free," said the Brazilian, who began his career at Fluminense."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."I want to achieve the highest level possible with the team," he added."I always want to try to score to help my team and hopefully next season can be better than last season."While Joao Pedro excelled, fellow striker Liam Delap looked stiff up front and struggled to create chances in a youthful team before being replaced after 60 minutes.Delap has been linked with a move to Everton, but Alonso insisted he was "doing well"."I see him in a good mood, in a good desire to get proper fitness, proper football, feeling good, … Xabi Alonso’s first match as Chelsea manager was defined by four strikers – an untouchable one, one that struggled again and could leave, a promising talent, and one that could join. The star was Joao Pedro, who scored a nine-minute hat-trick to help Alonso’s side to a 6-4 win against Western Sydney Wanderers in a match that highlighted the gulf between Premier League and A-League teams.
Perhaps it was the disappointment of being left out of Brazil’s World Cup squad that inspired the forward to showcase his finishing prowess as well as his power and pace in an entertaining spectacle at Accor Stadium. Alonso described Joao Pedro as “very, very hungry” and “determined to have a great season”. For the most part, however, it was a sloppy and imperfect performance by Chelsea, with the Blues still adjusting to the effects of jet lag.
There were few other standouts other than Joao Pedro, but Dastan Satpaev was one. The 17-year-old scored the first goal of Alonso’s reign – and in spectacular fashion – after just six minutes. Strangely, the Kazakhstan forward did so as a triallist – because he cannot formally complete his move from FC Kairat to Stamford Bridge until 12 August.
By contrast, his fellow starting forward Liam Delap again struggled, as he has in almost every appearance for Chelsea since his £30m move from Ipswich last summer. Delap appears short of confidence and could now be sold, with Chelsea advancing talks to sign Danny Welbeck, 35, as an experienced replacement. Welbeck has agreed personal terms and there is optimism at Chelsea that a deal can be reached, although his club Brighton are refusing to comment.
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