Joao Pedro responds to Karim Benzema comparisons as Chelsea striker scores again
Heading into Chelsea’s game against Hull City, Xabi Alonso paid Joao Pedro the ultimate compliment.
Alonso compared Pedro to Karim Benzema, one of the greatest centre-forwards of this generation.
Of late, Pedro has been as deadly as Benzema, scoring again on Saturday as Chelsea went on to draw 2-2 with Hull City at Stamford Bridge. However, the 24-year-old is not getting carried away with the comparisons.
Dropped points against Hull… Does Xabi Alonso need to make some serious changes?
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Joao Pedro admits Karim Benzema is on ‘another level’
While Pedro does think he has a similar playing style to Benzema, the Brazilian has humbly stated that the Real Madrid legend is on a different level.
Speaking after the Hull game, Pedro said via Chelsea’s official club website: “I think maybe the style, the way I play — I like to come deep and I like to link up with my team-mates. But, of course, Benzema is on another level.”
Like Benzema, Pedro does enjoy dropping deep and linking up play. Sometimes, Pedro going to the ball too often can be a bit of a weakness, but he has found a fine balance in most of Chelsea’s games this season.
The Brazil international is getting involved in play but still going inside the box and scoring, which did not always happen last season.
In four Premier League games this term, Pedro has already scored three goals and provided three assists.
What exactly did Xabi Alonso say about Joao Pedro and Karim Benzema?
Having played alongside Benzema, Alonso was able to go into a bit of detail when comparing his former teammate to Pedro.
In his pre-match press conference before Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Hull, Alonso told BBC Sport and the rest of the English media: “In many things he reminds me of Benzema, because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to his left side, he is good with the head, he is very complete, he is intelligent.”
Alonso will be happy with the striker options that he has right now. Pedro is unlikely to ever reach Benzema’s level, few can, but the Brazil star and Danny Welbeck can continue scoring goals for Chelsea.
Welbeck is yet to score for Chelsea in the Premier League since his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion, but he has found the back of the net three times in the Carabao Cup. He bagged a brace in Chelsea’s 6-3 thriller against Leeds United, helping the Blues come back from 2-0 down.
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