London, September 12 (Daily Kiran) : Chelsea Football Club manager Javi Alonso has drawn a striking comparison between João Pedro and former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema. This praise follows the Brazilian striker’s impressive performance at the start of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
Pedro has played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s strong opening, earning the title of ‘Premier League Player of the Month’ for August. The 24-year-old scored two goals and provided two assists in the club’s first two league matches against Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion.
Having worked with Pedro for only a few months, Alonso believes the Brazilian possesses numerous qualities of an exceptional center-forward. He remarked that Pedro’s style of play reminds him of Benzema, highlighting his versatility both inside and outside the box. “As a striker, he seems capable of doing everything. He reminds me of Benzema because he performs well both in the box and on the left flank, and he excels in headers. He is a complete player and very intelligent,” Alonso stated.
Alonso also suggested that Pedro’s name should be mentioned alongside top Premier League strikers like Erling Haaland of Manchester City. He emphasized Pedro’s contributions beyond just goals and assists, noting, “He has been fantastic, not only in terms of football but also regarding his personality and maturity. His goal this year is ambitious: to have a great season, score many goals, and be nominated for Player of the Month for several months, not just this month.”
Pedro kicked off his Premier League campaign with a goal against Fulham, later assisting Cole Palmer for the winning goal in a thrilling 3-2 victory. He also made significant contributions against his former club Brighton, scoring the third goal in a dramatic 4-3 home win and setting up Palmer for the decisive strike.
These outstanding performances have earned Pedro his first ‘Player of the Month’ award, making him the first Chelsea player to win this monthly accolade since Palmer in September 2024. He is also the seventh Brazilian to achieve this honor, joining the ranks of notable players like Juninho, Edu, David Luiz, Lucas Moura, Rodrigo Muniz, and Igor Thiago. Despite being just 24 years old, Alonso believes there is ample room for Pedro to improve. “Yes, he is still young and has many aspects to work on, but he possesses many excellent qualities,” the Chelsea manager added.
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