Chelsea have a Joao Pedro problem, and they do not yet know how bad it is. That is the reality after the forward missed the 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham, a game in which Chelsea looked flat, short of ideas and badly lacking their most reliable finisher.
The Brazil international was left out after picking up an issue in training at Cobham on Friday. There had been no warning beforehand, which tells you this was not something being managed over a period of days. It happened, fluid built up, and Chelsea were forced to wait. That is where things stand heading into Sunday, when a scan is expected to provide more clarity.
Xabi Alonso kept it simple when asked about the situation after the match. “We don’t know yet because he has a lot of fluid. He felt it yesterday and we need to wait probably until tomorrow to do the test and to know the whole situation and the whole seriousness of the injury. We will know soon enough.”
Chelsea attack misses Joao Pedro edge
The numbers explain why this matters. Joao Pedro has five goals and three assists in seven appearances this season. Last season, after arriving from Brighton for £60 million, he scored 20 in his first campaign at Stamford Bridge. Take that out of the side and Chelsea lose goals, movement and a player who regularly makes untidy matches look simple.
There is also context here. He already missed the 3-0 defeat at Brentford last month after suffering a knee injury against Hull. That issue was serious enough for him to see a specialist and to withdraw from Brazil duty. So when there is another physical setback, Chelsea have every reason to be concerned.
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Xabi Alonso gamble fails in Tottenham defeat
Without Joao Pedro, Alonso went for something different. Morgan Rogers started as a false nine, while Geovany Quenda was brought into the attack ahead of more conventional options such as Danny Welbeck and Estevao. It was a bold call. It also failed.
Chelsea were sluggish and blunt. Spurs were sharper,…
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