Chelsea forward Joao Pedro has downplayed any notion of rivalry with teammate Liam Delap, insisting that their shared success in attack is what matters most for the team.
Pedro’s remarks came following Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory over AC Milan in a pre-season friendly on Sunday, during which Delap came off the bench to score twice.
“I don’t want to say competition,” Pedro told Channel 5 via The Chelsea Chronicle. “I think it is very good for Chelsea to have both strikers at a good level. In the last game, he did not score. Today, he scored two goals. I am very happy for him.”
Delap joined Chelsea earlier in the summer from Ipswich Town in a deal believed to be worth £30 million. Pedro followed nearly a month later, arriving from Brighton for a reported £60 million fee.
Last week, Delap was given the nod ahead of Pedro in a friendly against Bayer Leverkusen but failed to find the net. Pedro came on as a substitute and sealed a 2-0 win with a 90th-minute goal.
Against Milan, Pedro was included in the starting lineup and made an early impact, rising to head home a precise cross from Pedro Neto in the eighth minute to put Chelsea 2-0 up.
Delap entered the match on the hour mark, replacing Pedro, and wasted no time making his presence felt. He scored from the penalty spot just seven minutes after coming on and added his second in stoppage time to cap off a dominant team performance.
Pedro, 23, emphasized the importance of unity in the attacking line, highlighting how a firing frontline will serve Chelsea’s ambitions well as they prepare for the new campaign.
