Chelsea forward Joao Pedro worked under Eduardo Oliveira at Under-17 level.
Pedro and Oliveira were together at Fluminense, where the latter coached the Brazilian club’s Under-17 team.
He recently gave an interview about Pedro, stating what he thinks his best position is. The 23-year-old is able to play as a striker and as a No.10, being used in both roles this season.
For as good as he has been so far, Gary Neville has one concern about Pedro, feeling that he is not at the same level as some of the other top forwards in the Premier League.
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Eduardo Oliveira thinks Joao Pedro’s best position is centre-forward
Pedro has not done a bad job in the attacking midfielder position this term, filling in for Cole Palmer in games against Fulham and West Ham United.
Pedro scored in both of those London derbies, but Oliveira still thinks that he is at home in the No.9 role.
Speaking to ESPN, he said: “I believe he’s perfectly prepared to play centre-forward, but in modern football, roles change throughout the game, and you see that understanding and controlling space is much more important than simply being positioned in it.
“So, I believe that if he starts in a certain structure, playing as a number 9, he’s a guy who can understand and deliver a very good performance.”
Enzo Maresca is likely to listen to Oliveira and play Pedro up front in the coming weeks. The Chelsea manager has a centre-forward problem right now, with Liam Delap currently out injured.
Marc Guiu has been recalled from his loan at Sunderland but is yet to make an appearance for Chelsea this season.
Maresca has been picking Tyrique George instead of Guiu, despite the Chelsea academy graduate almost being sold in the last transfer window.
Joao Pedro determined to improve
Oliveira has also given some insight into what Pedro’s mentality is like. After working with him, Oliveira learnt that the former Brighton & Hove Albion man is someone who is determined to get better.
“In every training session, he only wanted to improve,” Oliveira revealed. “He said, ‘I don’t want to be left out again, because I already spent two years without playing and that was very hard for me. Now it’s my opportunity. Whatever you tell me, I will do’.”
Hopefully, Pedro can continue to grow at Chelsea. The early signs are good, and had Palmer been fully fit, you suspect that Pedro may have had another goal or two by his name.
The two combined to devastating effect at the Club World Cup but have seen their relationship take a pause because of Palmer’s ongoing groin problem.
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