Photo: DHSgov / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says Joao Pedro is determined to have an even stronger second season at the club after the Brazilian forward scored a nine-minute hat-trick in a 6-4 pre-season win over Western Sydney Wanderers on July 28.
"He's very hungry – Joao is really, really determined to have a great season," Alonso said. "He wants to – after a great last year, where he scored many goals – I think that he wants to keep scoring more and more. But we need to help him, as on his own it's not possible."
The 24-year-old joined Chelsea from Brighton and Hove Albion last summer and scored in both the semi-final and final of the FIFA Club World Cup. He finished his debut season with 20 goals across all competitions and was voted Player of the Season by supporters.
Joao Pedro's summer was not without setback, however. He was left out of Brazil's squad for the FIFA World Cup in North America, a notable omission for a player in that form.
Alonso indicated the squad around the striker would share responsibility for the team's attacking output. "He will have the players around him and they need to have this hunger to score as well. It's not just about the striker, but every time that we win and our striker scores, I am happy," the Chelsea manager added.