Joao Pedro's Dream Full Debut Leads Chelsea To Club World Cup Final With Two Goals

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Joao Pedro had an impressive debut for Chelsea, scoring twice to lead his team to a 2-0 victory over Fluminense in the Club World Cup semi-final. This win at MetLife Stadium sets up a final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain. Joao Pedro, who joined Chelsea from Brighton last week, started due to Liam Delap's suspension.

The forward became the first Brazilian to score for Chelsea since Thiago Silva, who also played against Fluminense. Joao Pedro expressed his joy, saying, "I think it was a dream... Two goals. Now we need to think about the final." He is eager to improve his fitness for the upcoming match.

Enzo Maresca advised Joao Pedro to maintain his performance level from the previous game. Reflecting on this, Joao Pedro said, "I was happy to score... The team won... I try to improve every session." He appreciates the support from his teammates and is focused on the final.

Joao Pedro began his career at Fluminense before moving to Watford in 2020. Despite scoring against his former club, he chose not to celebrate. He explained, "When I was young I didn’t have anything and they gave me everything... I’m here because they believe in me."

Professionalism and Gratitude

In an interview with DAZN, Joao Pedro acknowledged the significance of the tournament for Fluminense but stressed professionalism: "I play for Chelsea. They pay me to score goals." Despite Fluminense's earlier successes against Inter and Al-Hilal, they struggled against Chelsea.

Thiago Silva praised Fluminense's efforts despite their defeat. "It was a very difficult game... We really value how far we made it," he told DAZN. A controversial moment occurred when referee Francois Letexier reversed a penalty decision after a VAR review.

Silva commented on this decision: "I thought it was a penalty... It could have changed the game." Despite this setback, Silva remained proud of their journey in the tournament. The focus now shifts to Chelsea's upcoming final as they aim for victory in this prestigious competition.