Alonso: Joao Pedro Like Benzema and Haaland Level

Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso rates Joao Pedro alongside Erling Haaland and likens him to Karim Benzema.

João Pedro

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What happened. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said Joao Pedro is stylistically similar to his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema and at a comparable level to Manchester City's Erling Haaland. Joao Pedro was named Premier League Player of the Month on Friday after two goals and two assists in his first three games of the season.

• Joao Pedro signed a new Chelsea contract last month running until 2034.
• He was handed Chelsea's number nine shirt at the start of the season.
• He is the first Chelsea striker since Diego Costa to score 20 goals in a single season.

“If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I'm sure that Joao is there”

— Xabi Alonso

Joao Pedro's fast start and Alonso's backing raise expectations as Chelsea lean on him up front this season.

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