'He's a Machine': Joao Pedro Names Chelsea's Key Midfield Force

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has praised team-mate Cole Palmer's all-round attacking ability, describing the England international as a complete player ahead of the Blues' Premier League clash against Everton on Saturday, October 17.

Speaking in an interview shared by JioStar, Pedro highlighted Palmer's ability to score goals, create chances and threaten from set pieces, while also discussing his understanding with Morgan Rogers and the influence of manager Xabi Alonso on Chelsea's attacking approach.

Chelsea, who sit sixth in the Premier League standings, face fifth-placed Everton looking to strengthen their position in the table. Pedro has emerged as a key attacking threat for the Blues, leading their scoring charts with five goals, according to the supplied interview material.

"Cole Palmer is a beast, he can score, he can pass. He can score from free kicks. He can do everything. He's a complete player and that's what makes him special," Pedro said in an interview shared by JioStar.

"He scored amazing goals in our matches against Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion. I don't know how he did it but that's just Cole Palmer things and that's why everyone says he's a special player."

Joao Pedro Explains Chelsea's Attacking Partnership

Pedro also outlined how he adapts his movement and passing to complement Palmer and Rogers in Chelsea's front three. While he looks to feed Palmer at his feet, he prefers to play into space for Rogers, allowing the winger to take on defenders in one-on-one situations.

"My role in the front three is pretty simple. Whenever I see Palmer, I always try to get the ball to his feet, and he always manages to put it past the goalkeeper. For Morgan Rogers, I try to play the ball into space, to put him in 1v1 situations," Pedro said.

"Once he beats the defender, he passes the ball to me and my job is just to make the runs. If I do that, they will find me, and then it's up to me to put the ball in the back of the net."

Pedro's comments underline the importance of movement and complementary roles within Chelsea's forward line. Rather than relying on one player to carry the attack, the Brazilian believes the combination of Palmer's creativity, Rogers' ability to beat defenders and his own runs can generate opportunities in different ways.

Xabi Alonso's Winning Mentality Making an Impact

Pedro also praised Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, describing him as an approachable coach who understands the mindset of players because of his own experience as a professional footballer.

The forward said Alonso had made his ambition clear from their first meeting, with his desire to win aligning with the mentality of the squad.

"Our gaffer Xabi Alonso is very open with us because he used to play football so, he understands our mind. The first meeting we had with him was like he's very passionate. He wants to win every game possible. So, it's very good for us because we are thinking in the same way," Pedro said.

The Chelsea forward also credited the team's collective approach for its goalscoring output, stressing that the responsibility for finding the net extends beyond the front three.

"Everyone in the team wants to score goals and Xabi always tells us it doesn't matter what happens, you just need to be focused and be connected to the game and you're going to score," he said.

"For us, it is not just about one player. Cole, Morgan, and I all chip in, but the midfielders and defenders also help with goals from set pieces. That makes us hard to defend against because the threat can come from anywhere."

Pedro added that maintaining their ability to create chances would be crucial to sustaining their goalscoring form.

Joao Pedro Hails Moises Caicedo's Midfield Influence

Pedro reserved further praise for midfielder Moises Caicedo, describing the Ecuador international as a key figure in Chelsea's structure because of his ability to cover ground, recover possession and protect the defence.

"Moises, for me, he's the best in his position in the world. He's a machine. He covers so much ground in midfield and wins the ball back so many times," Pedro said.

"That gives the rest of us the freedom to go forward and attack. When he is playing, we feel more secure as a team because we know he is there to protect the back four. So that's why he's very important for us."

Caicedo's defensive work, in Pedro's assessment, allows Chelsea's attacking players to commit forward with greater freedom while retaining protection in midfield.

Everton vs Chelsea: Match Details

Chelsea face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, October 17, with kick-off scheduled for 5 PM IST, according to the supplied broadcast information.

The match will be shown live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.

*Source credit: JioStar. All quotes and attributable insights in this article are sourced from an interview shared by JioStar.*