Chelsea have modern football’s “ideal attacking wing player” in Pedro, says Besiktas boss
New Besiktas boss Abdullah Avci has described Chelsea’s Pedro as the “ideal attacking wing player” following the Super Cup defeat to Liverpool.
Pedro started against Liverpool and Manchester United and impressed despite defeats in both games.
Can Pedro help Chelsea fill the Hazard void? Five things to know…
- Pedro played an integral in Pep Guardiola’s success at Barcelona between 2009 and 2011.
- The winger played all bar three games in 2016/17, helping Chelsea win the Premier League title.
- He has hit double figures for goal contributions (goals + assists) in every season he has spent at Chelsea.
- Pedro created more chances (5) than any other player on the opening week of the Premier League season.
- He followed that up by creating another five chances vs Liverpool, again the most on the night.
In an interview with Goal, Avci said: “I also liked Pedro.
“He’s the ideal attacking wing player in modern football; he can help his team, protect the ball, he doesn’t lose possession easily and can dribble past his opponent in the blink of an eye.”
The Besiktas boss was also full of praise for Pedro’s teammate N’Golo Kante, who didn’t deserve to be on the losing side in Istanbul after an outstanding individual performance in which he showcased great ability in all areas of the pitch.
Pedro is the first man ever to win:
🏆 Champions League
🏆 Premier League
🏆 Europa League
🏆 World Cup
🏆 EurosAnd that is *certainly* not everything. pic.twitter.com/7Tpxr7yghX
— Squawka (@Squawka) May 29, 2019
Avci added: “Sarri was constantly criticised for this but Kante was the best Chelsea player on the pitch.”
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A plethora of wingers at Lampard’s disposal
Despite the damaging yet totally inevitable departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer, Lampard does not find himself short of options in the wide areas.
Pedro has started both of Chelsea’s games this season and has looked lively, playing centrally as well as on both flanks. Willian is on the way back from injury and will surely be used by Lampard when he returns to full fitness.
Callum Hudson-Odoi returned to training this week and the prospect of him and new signing Christian Pulisic on the flanks is simply frightening. The wingers are just 18 and 20-years-old respectively and are expected to be important figures this season following Hazard’s exit.
However, if Pedro can maintain his current performance levels, Lampard will certainly have a selection headache on his hands.
