Chelsea signed plenty of new players before the season got underway to help them kick on. According to former Blues star Oscar, one summer signing has already emerged as the new poster boy at Stamford Bridge.
It has been an average start to the new season for the Blues, winning just two of their opening six Premier League matches. However, they recruited heavily in the previous transfer window to try and improve the squad.
Chelsea believe their current squad is stronger compared to what they had last year, so they expect to be more competitive. However, that doesn’t factor in the amount of injuries to several first-team stars.
Unfortunately, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca doubts the current squad can compete in both the Premier League and Champions League in the same season.
Oscar picks out Joao Pedro as new Chelsea talisman
Former Chelsea star Oscar thinks that Joao Pedro, who joined from Brighton in the summer, is the new face at Stamford Bridge.
When asked if Pedro is the man to be Chelsea’s number nine, Oscar said on The Obi One Podcast: “I think he is because he’s already there in the Premier League. He knows how to score goals. It’s difficult to score goals in the small teams in the Premier League and he scored a lot of goals for Brighton. Now in Chelsea, every game he is there, he’s scoring goals…
“He’s strong. He can score with the head and the feet. I like him. I like the way he plays. I think he is the player who is the face of Chelsea. He fights. He has a good personality.”
Without a doubt, Pedro has made an impressive start to his Chelsea career. He’s scored five goals and created three assists in 11 Blues appearances across all competitions, proving his versatility to operate as a centre-forward or number 10.
Even though Pedro was sent off against Benfica in the midweek Champions League win, he’s looked a natural in the starting XI since his summer arrival from Brighton.
It is good news that Pedro is not in Brazil’s latest squad for the upcoming international break because it should give him some much-needed time to rest. The versatile attacker needs it because he’s been full-on for the last few months.
While we’re super impressed by what Pedro has done so far at his new club, he wouldn’t be our pick yet for the face of Chelsea.
Cole Palmer is the face of Chelsea
It seems a no-brainer to us that Cole Palmer is still the face of Chelsea despite his current injury problems.
After only making four appearances so far this season, Palmer is expected back after October’s international break from a groin problem. It does mean that the attacking midfielder remains unavailable for Saturday’s Premier League showdown at home to Liverpool.
The reality is that Palmer has carried Chelsea’s attack on his back now for the previous two seasons, and they look so much weaker when he’s not playing.
Palmer, who finished eighth in the Ballon d’Or, remains the standout individual in Chelsea’s ranks.
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