Pressure Already Piling on Pedro to Deliver for Faltering Chelsea

Given the manner with which the move was pulled off, it’s debatable whether Chelsea actually wanted Pedro Rodriguez in the first place. When Jose Mourinho drew up his transfer targets for the summer, was the Spanish winger even mentioned? His may have been a shrewd signing, but it’s reasonable to deduce that Pedro wasn’t a player Mourinho really wanted.

That’s not to say the former Barcelona winger isn’t perfectly suited to Chelsea. In fact, he is the quintessential Mourinho kind of player—speedy, hard-working, adaptable and undoubtedly loyal. But his arrival at Stamford Bridge never appeared likely until the day before it happened.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

But it’s just as well Pedro was snatched from under the dithering noses of Manchester United. The Spaniard has played just twice for his new club, yet pressure already weighs heavy on him to deliver for Chelsea. Regardless of whether he truly wanted him, Mourinho is reliant on Pedro to spark his ailing front line into life.

Of course, the 28-year-old is already off the mark for Chelsea, netting a debut goal in the 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion in August. He was also impressive in his home bow, contributing an assist against Crystal Palace, and he was one of the only Blues players to get pass marks from the dismal 2-1 defeat. 

It illustrated just how dependent Chelsea could quickly become on their new signing, particularly given the faltering start to their Premier League title defence. Mourinho’s sides are rarely known for their attacking fluidity and expressiveness, but even by his often stodgy standards, this current Chelsea team are decidedly insipid going forward—at least on the basis of their last few performances.

Something very fundamental is wrong with the Stamford Bridge side at the moment, which has manifested itself in their final third of late. Eden Hazard has so far been unable to rediscover the kind of form that won him a clean sweep of individual awards last season, Oscar has struggled with injury and Willian is still being used as something of a carthorse.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Meanwhile Diego Costa seems focused on starting fights with pretty much every defender he comes up against rather than actually scoring goals. Every team needs a bad boy but not one who verges on committing assault nearly every time he plays. Chelsea could do with their attacking battering ram recalling what it is he is in the team to do exactly.

All this explains why Chelsea are counting on Pedro to deliver immediately after his £21 million switch from Barcelona. He has yet to be dragged down by whatever is inhibiting those at Stamford Bridge right now, so Mourinho has unsurprisingly turned to the winger for attacking inspiration. The Portuguese said the following after Pedro’s goalscoring debut at West Brom, per the Press Association (via Eurosport):

"

He's a very good player. There is always a question mark because how many top players come to England and don't perform immediately. People ask if he is the right player, can he adapt? We have examples in our club and there are lots of examples in other clubs, it's very nice for him to perform the way he did.

"

Of course, Pedro now finds himself working with the coach he was once sworn against at the height of Barcelona and Real Madrid’s bitter feud during the Pep Guardiola era. Not that the player himself seems particularly concerned about appearing disloyal to his former manager.

“I like the way Mourinho works. I feel comfortable,” he insisted upon his arrival at Chelsea, as per Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Mirror. “He has a positive and winning mentality. I am delighted because I like nothing better than winning.”

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Indeed, Mourinho must be grateful for Pedro’s company at Stamford Bridge too. The Portuguese coach is a naturally defensive-minded technician, but with Chelsea decidedly shoddy at the back for the time being, he must focus on how the Blues’ front line can lead the way for the rest of the side.

The benefit of Pedro’s arrival might be felt just as much in the defensive sense as it is in attack. Someone of his pace and work ethic could prove significant in relieving pressure on Chelsea’s back line at a time when it has appeared uncharacteristically vulnerable.

Saturday’s trip to Goodison Park to face Everton could set the tone for the rest of Chelsea’s season. Mourinho simply cannot afford another defeat—a draw might not even be good enough—particularly when considering the vigour with which title rivals Manchester City have started the season. 

The champions find themselves eight points behind Manuel Pellegrini’s side after just four games. It’s a gap that might already prove too wide to bridge, and another defeat—coupled with a Man City win—would surely end Chelsea’s title challenge before it has even started. Mourinho’s margin of error is at a critical level, with victory against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday a requirement.

Tony McArdle - Everton FC/Getty Images

Given the wads of cash thrown at Everton in an effort to sign John Stones, that match will take on an additional dimension. The home fans will undoubtedly voice their glee at Chelsea’s failure to poach the young centre-back, but while he might not have got his man, the move for Stones illustrated where Mourinho’s priorities lay this summer—primarily, finding a long-term replacement for John Terry.

Paul Pogba might have been a target too, with reports, such as this one in the Express, claiming the Stamford Bridge club made a late play for the French midfielder.

What’s for sure is very few people looked at Chelsea’s squad this summer and believed they needed a fast, goalscoring winger more than any other player, but that’s the way it has turned out. Not even Mourinho had the foresight to envisage that the Blues would need Pedro—only making a move when the extent of his side’s attacking struggles became apparent.

Never before has an improvised signing so quickly become so meaningful.