Chelsea: Joao Pedro pleased to end goal drought despite missing wealth of chances in derby win

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Evening Standard

·1 novembre 2025

Chelsea: Joao Pedro pleased to end goal drought despite missing wealth of chances in derby win

The Brazilian forward had failed to score in his last 10 appearances

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro said he “needed” his winning goal against Tottenham, but insisted his main objective is always to “play for the team”.

The Brazilian’s first-half goal proved the difference in Saturday’s London derby victory and also ended a 10-game scoring drought for him personally.

Pedro, 24, had also been dealing with a niggling groin injury in recent weeks and failed to register a single shot on more than one occasion in the Premier League of late.

He racked up several chances on Saturday evening, though, and coolly netted one - his first goal since August - in the 34th minute of the match having been found in the area by Moises Caicedo, who he said he owed a thank-you dinner.

Speaking after the game, Pedro suggested that snapping his barren streak will serve as a confidence booster but reiterated that scoring goals is not the be-all and end-all of what he brings to Enzo Maresca’s side.

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“I think I needed this goal because [it’s a] long time that I didn’t score, and I think the team expects that from me - I’m very happy,” he said.

“I always want to help the team, of course with goals and assists but first I need to play well because if I play well, the goals come. The important thing is always [for] Chelsea to win games, and I’m very chill about the goals.”

Asked how he handles going through spells without shooting, let alone scoring, he added: “I think in my position if you don’t shoot you get frustrated, but I think you need to not look just for yourself - you need to see if the others get a chance.”

“I’m the kind of player that if I don’t shoot, I’m going to create space for the others. Of course I always want to score, but sometimes it’s not going to happen.

“The last games I didn’t shoot but also I had a problem I think everyone knows that - I stayed out from the national team. But I’m getting better, I try to improve and today I was happy to score.

“Like you said, today I had a lot of opportunities that I miss, but another time I had a chance to shoot and I pass to Jamie [Gittens], so I play for the team.”