Chelsea: Joao Pedro confirms fitness levels and reveals Enzo Maresca chat over best role

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·7. Juli 2025

Chelsea: Joao Pedro confirms fitness levels and reveals Enzo Maresca chat over best role

The summer signing is pushing to make his first start since joining for £60m

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Joao Pedro says he is ready to start Chelsea's Club World Cup semi-final against Fluminense after training during his holidays to keep his fitness up before joining the club.

The Brazilian last became the Blues' sixth signing of an already busy summer window, arriving from Brighton on a deal worth up to £60million, and made his debut just days later in the win over Palmeiras at the Club World Cup.

Joao Pedro played a little over half an hour and impressed as Chelsea won 2-1 to set up a semi-final clash with Fluminense. With Liam Delap suspended for the game, after picking up a yellow card, and Nicolas Jackson coming back from a ban of his own, there is a striker vacancy to fill.

Asked if he believes he is fit enough to start the last-four clash, Joao Pedro told reporters: "In Rio [before I joined] I have a personal trainer and I trained as well as I could so I was ready.

"Imagine if I didn’t train and Chelsea called me to come then it would be more difficult for me. I was on holiday with friends and family but I made sure I was ready.

"I knew Chelsea had interest in me, so I was training even harder. And when they called me to come here I was ready. I wasn't 100 per cent but I was ready to train and maybe play. Let's see tomorrow."

Debut: Joao Pedro acknowledges the fans after his debut

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He added: "I always training on my vacation, and if I don't start or not, this is not my decision, but I'm trying to improve to be ready should Enzo [Maresca, Chelsea head coach], need me. You're going see tomorrow if I start or not.

Joao Pedro played as the focal point of the attack on his debut and believes that is his best role as he prepares to compete with both Delap and Jackson for minutes in the new season.

"I'd say I am a striker," he said. "I like to play as a number nine. But I also like to feel free on the pitch. And that's what Enzo said to me, 'Play like a number nine but come deeper to link up with the other players'.

"I am a very technical player. I like to score as well. I play like a nine, but I also have the mind of a ten as well. I think this combination will be good for my team-mates and for Chelsea."