Chelsea's Joao Pedro Emerges as World-Class Contender, Says Rosiniour
7 March 2026
Blues boss: I won’t swap my players for any other star.
Chelsea’s Joao Pedro in World-Class Company
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosiniour says one of the Blues’ players belongs to the same tier as global scorers such as Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe.
Chelsea, who host Rexham in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, hope Joao Pedro becomes the first Chelsea striker to reach 20 goals in a season since Diego Costa in 2016-17.
It's worth noting that only two Chelsea players have reached this figure in recent years: striker Cole Palmer with 25 goals in 2023-24, five years after Eden Hazard hit 21 when he played as a winger.
According to BBC, the 24-year-old scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa last Wednesday, bringing his total to 17 goals in all competitions this season.
None of his 14 Premier League goals this season have come from penalties; Haaland has 19 non-penalty goals in the league, Kane leads the five major European leagues with 20, and Mbappe has 15 for Real Madrid.
In response to whether Joao Pedro is on the same level as Haaland, Kane, and Mbappe, Rosiniour said: “Joao is in that category now. In the two months I’ve spent here, he has consistently shown he is a world-class striker.”
Rosiniour added: “I’m talking about players; it’s not fair to compare them with Erling. I don’t know Erling well, but from the outside he looks a superb, world-class striker.”
The Blues boss continued: “I won’t substitute Joao for anyone at this moment; he shows all the qualities and traits I want to see.”
He concluded: “The great thing about Joao is his age; he can still improve, and I’ve already noticed several areas he can develop. But the level he’s playing at now is world-class, and my job, the club’s job, and his mission is to keep him at this level.”
Also read: Enormous Sloth’s wait for Rosiniour … The Derby Killer waits for Chelsea
Punchline 1: If Joao Pedro keeps scoring at this rate, the goal net will start charging him rent for staying in the back of the net.
Punchline 2: With Pedro in form, Chelsea might need a bigger trophy cabinet—either that or a relocation plan for the defense to keep up with the celebrations.
