Enzo Maresca hails Joao Pedro's instant impact as Chelsea reach Club World Cup final
By
SABC Sport
9th July 2025
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was full of praise for Joao Pedro after the Brazilian striker marked his first start for the club with both goals in a 2-0 win over Fluminense, sending the Blues into the final of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.
Pedro, signed from Brighton last week in a deal reportedly worth 60 million pounds, delivered an assured performance at MetLife Stadium, scoring in each half to secure Chelsea's place in Sunday's final against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.
"I'm very happy for Joao," Maresca said after the match. "He has the quality to decide games like today. We brought him in knowing exactly what he can do - especially against low blocks. That's where his strengths are, and he showed that tonight."
Despite joining the squad late after an extended offseason, the 23-year-old looked sharp and composed throughout, combining intelligent movement with clinical finishing.
"He was on holiday, so maybe he was a bit fresher than the rest," Maresca added with a smile. "But make no mistake - this wasn't about fitness. This was about talent, and he has it in abundance."
Pedro's goals came against his former club Fluminense, where he developed as a youth player before moving to Watford in 2020. The forward chose not to celebrate either goal out of respect for his boyhood club, but Maresca emphasized the maturity in how he handled the occasion.
"It's never easy to play against your old club, especially one that means so much to you," Maresca said. "He showed class - not just in the way he played, but in how he carried himself."
Pedro's breakout performance comes at the end of a season in which Chelsea reestablished themselves among Europe's elite, finishing fourth in the Premier League and winning the UEFA Conference League.
"This club has high standards, and the last few years haven't reflected that," Maresca said. "But we've worked hard to change that narrative. Now we're in a final, and we want to finish the job."
The only concern on the night was an injury to midfielder Moises Caicedo, who twisted his ankle in stoppage time. Maresca said the Ecuadorian will be assessed ahead of Sunday's final.
"Hopefully it's nothing serious. He wanted to continue, but he felt pain. We'll see how he recovers."
For now, though, the spotlight belongs to Pedro - and to Maresca's faith in a player already repaying Chelsea's investment on the biggest stage.
