Joao Pedro discusses his instincts, reveals Chelsea ambitions ahead of new season
By Joel Masibo, August 18, 2026There is a side of Joao Pedro that very few people get to see. It is the version of the Chelsea forward reserved for close friends and family in Brazil, the people who knew him well before his move to England.
Away from the pressure of Stamford Bridge, the 24-year-old simply enjoys spending time with those closest to him and taking a break from football.
‘When I go to Brazil and stay with my friends, I try not to think too much about football,’ Joao Pedro spoke during Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.
Rather than discussing football with his friends, the Brazilian prefers to switch off and enjoy their company.
‘I don’t play football with them or anything like this; I just try to relax and enjoy myself with them.
‘Brazil is my country; it’s where I grew up. So, whenever I have a holiday, it always feels good to be back there with my friends and family. It helps me recover and enjoy my break and means I can come back 100 per cent.’
Joao Pedro would have preferred a different kind of summer, however. His wish was to represent Brazil at the World Cup in North America, but the break ultimately gave him an opportunity to recharge.
He also spent part of his holiday in Cyprus before returning to Chelsea in excellent condition. His form during pre-season has underlined that sharpness, with the striker finding the net seven times across five games.
Still room for improvement
Despite his impressive start to the campaign, Joao Pedro believes there is still room for improvement. More importantly, he wants his own performances to contribute directly to Chelsea’s success.
‘My first year here was special, but it wasn’t what we wanted as a group. So, I will continue to give my best and hopefully I can have another good season, and the team also achieves our targets.
‘ I know that when a new player joins a club, sometimes it can be a little bit difficult. For me at Chelsea, it was completely different. I felt at home straight away and won a trophy after just ten days!
‘I feel very comfortable here and, hopefully, we can win more titles together.’
Joao Pedro’s first days at Chelsea could hardly have gone better individually, as he helped the Blues win the Club World Cup less than two weeks after completing his move.
He has now returned for a new season under a new head coach, with Xabi Alonso taking charge of the first team.
Alonso’s approach
The forward has been impressed by the Spaniard’s approach and believes Alonso has already created an atmosphere in which players feel comfortable expressing themselves.
‘The manager is very open; he has come here to help everyone. I’ve had a few chats with him, which I have enjoyed a lot. I’m looking forward a lot to the season to try to help him and Chelsea achieve the targets.’
One of Joao Pedro’s biggest strengths during his debut campaign was his ability to operate in different areas of the pitch. His versatility allowed him to produce goals in a variety of ways.
He struck from distance against Napoli, found the net with a header against West Ham United and produced an outstanding overhead kick against Nottingham Forest. The latter was voted Chelsea’s Goal of the Season by supporters.
For Joao Pedro, however, versatility does not mean abandoning his natural instincts as a striker.
‘My position has always been number nine,’ says Joao Pedro. ‘But because I have good technique, I can come deeper or go to the wing. But I just want to play and help the team on the pitch.
‘Sometimes I will be deep, sometimes in the box. What I can’t lose is the instinct of where I need to be on the pitch. Sometimes, in football, you just need to feel.
‘If you just stay in the box, maybe you don’t get many chances. But if you stay outside, you can be far away from the goal. So, I need to use this feeling and then score goals.
‘When I was younger, I played in different positions; I think it has helped me a lot. But we have top players in the middle of the pitch, so I will focus on scoring the goals!’
That instinct played a major role in Joao Pedro’s successful first season at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea supporters will be hoping it continues to produce goals and memorable moments as the new campaign unfolds.