Chelsea: Enzo Maresca reveals how Joao Pedro has turned Blues into title challengers | OneFootball

The Brazilian has five goals in five appearances since signing with the west Londoners

Instant impact: Joao Pedro has made a fast start to life under Enzo Maresca

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Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has revealed which of Joao Pedro’s qualities will help the Blues summit the Premier League.

Chelsea regularly struggled to break down low-block defences last season. For Maresca, Pedro’s close control in tight spaces will help the Blues unlock more stubborn back lines.

Speaking on the Men in Blazers Show, he said: “[Pedro] has quality. In the last third, he has lots of quality that we lack a little bit.

“He has lots of quality in the box, especially against teams that are low block. We need that quality in the small spaces, and Joao gives us that.”

Maresca believes Pedro’s addition has helped establish Chelsea as genuine title contenders: “I think one year ago we were very far from the ones that dominate English football, but I think now we are quite close.

“We can continue to improve, get closer, and try to compete for that (the Premier League title).”

Reinforcements: Chelsea’s first-team summer signings (L-R) Dario Essugo, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato, and Estevao

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Pedro is one of four new attacking arrivals at Chelsea this summer, and is not the only one to have made a fast start to life in royal blue.

Estevao has stolen the show in his first two appearances, scoring on debut against Bayer Leverkusen and winning a penalty in a four-goal rout of AC Milan.

But Maresca is not putting pressure on the 18-year-old to carry his side to a title-winning season, instead saying he needs time to settle: “We are going to try to help him, no rush, no pressure. He needs time, he needs to adapt.

“The most important thing for him now is to arrive here, find a house, bring the family, be happy, and slowly, slowly, he is going to help us, for sure.”

After winning both of their pre-season outings, Chelsea will host Crystal Palace in their first Premier League fixture of the season.