Joe Cole Lauds 'Monster' Chelsea Forward Joao Pedro After Thrilling FA Cup Triumph
Chelsea legend Joe Cole has singled out Joao Pedro as a 'monster' for the Blues after their dramatic 4-2 victory over Wrexham in the FA Cup on Saturday. The match, which required extra time to decide, saw Chelsea secure their place in the quarter-final draw after a tense encounter with their Championship opponents.
Extra-Time Heroics Seal Chelsea's Progression
Liam Rosenior's Chelsea side faced a significant scare as Wrexham took the lead twice during the regular ninety minutes. The match took a pivotal turn when Wrexham were reduced to ten men in the 90th minute, allowing Chelsea to capitalize in extra time. Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro both found the net to seal the crucial victory for the Premier League giants.
Pedro's goal against Wrexham marked his 11th strike in just his last 12 appearances for Chelsea, showcasing his sublime form ahead of the club's upcoming Champions League last-16 first leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening.
Cole's Glowing Assessment of Pedro's Performance
'He's a monster, he really is,' Cole emphatically told TNT Sports during his post-match analysis. 'I think he's decided what he's already doing [for his goal vs Wrexham], he's playing with them, he takes the centre-half over to the left, drags him back, he actually strikes it into the floor, everything he's hitting at the moment going in.'
Cole further elaborated on Pedro's unique playing style, noting: 'He plays that No.9 role, he plays it not like an Erling Haaland where he's constantly on the shoulder, he will drop in and drift in because he's got quality.'
Former Teammate Ben Foster Praises Pedro's Versatility
Ben Foster, who served as a pundit alongside Cole for the FA Cup tie and previously played with Pedro at Watford, highlighted the Brazilian's versatility as a key factor in his success. 'I've got to say I'm so happy to see Joao doing really well,' Foster stated. 'I was with Joao at Watford, you could see all the raw elements were there, he had that real bit of Brazilian flair about him and nastiness as well.'
Foster continued: 'But to see him now in the Premier League doing it week in, week out. He played on the left for us, on the right, up top, he could do all of those little positions and I think that's why he's scoring so many goals and being so effective, he's taking positions and defenders don't know where he's going to be.'
The former goalkeeper expressed surprise that Pedro didn't start the match, adding: 'I was really surprised he didn't start tonight, to be honest, because when somebody has just scored a hat-trick, confidence, especially strikers, they feed off this ego and when they score a hat-trick they just want to score more and more. To see him come on I thought, 'oh no, here we go'.'
Pedro's remarkable form and adaptability have made him a crucial asset for Chelsea as they continue their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts this season.
