Former Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has issued a stark warning over the concerning dip in form of the club's £60 million summer signing, striker Joao Pedro.
From Flying Start to Bench Duty
The Brazilian international, signed from Brighton in the 2025 summer transfer window, made an explosive start to his Chelsea career. Joao Pedro scored three goals in his first three games, playing a key role in the Blues' Club World Cup triumph in the United States. That momentum continued into the early Premier League season, where he netted three times and provided one assist in his opening four matches.
However, the goals have since dried up dramatically. Following the departure of Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich and an early-season injury to Liam Delap, the goalscoring burden fell squarely on Joao Pedro's shoulders. The 24-year-old has managed just two goals in his last 12 appearances across all competitions, a statistic that has seen him lose his starting place.
Petit Questions Chelsea's Striker Conundrum
The situation reached a head during Chelsea's impressive Champions League victory over Barcelona. Manager Enzo Maresca opted to deploy winger Pedro Neto as a central striker, leaving Joao Pedro, Delap, and another forward on the bench. This tactical decision prompted a baffled reaction from Petit.
"I looked at the game, I looked at the team sheet, and I looked at the players on the bench and I thought, what?" Petit told Snabbare. "There are three strikers on the bench? No one started the game? What's going on?"
The French World Cup winner suggested the infamous 'striker curse' at Chelsea might have claimed another victim. "It's weird. There are two 'curses' at this club, the goalkeeper position and the number nine," he said. "Honestly, I was very impressed with him when he started... But week after week, he has been dropping off."
Pressure, Competition, and a Manager's Reality Check
Petit theorised that the intense competition for places at Stamford Bridge, combined with a lack of consistent starts, is harming Joao Pedro's confidence and rhythm. "When you put too much competition to earn your place, it sometimes becomes very difficult for the players," he explained, highlighting a cycle where a striker is benched after failing to score, leading to diminished confidence.
Earlier in the season, Maresca himself tempered expectations around his new signing. The Italian coach stated that Joao Pedro "is not a No9 that is going to score 20 goals each year", comparing his profile unfavourably to prolific marksmen like Erling Haaland or Robert Lewandowski. Maresca emphasised Pedro's all-around play but made it clear the club had not signed a traditional, out-and-out goalscorer.
With Liam Delap now back from injury and pushing for a start, the pressure on Joao Pedro to rediscover his early-season form is intensifying. As Petit summarised, "I think Joao Pedro needs to understand that when you're a striker, you're judged on your stats. Their number one mission is to put the ball into the net." For Chelsea's expensive Brazilian, that mission has become increasingly difficult.
