João Pedro’s hot streak continues, but how does he compare to Didier Drogba’s first season?
João Pedro continued his stunning form in front of goal for Chelsea under Liam Rosenior with a superb hat-trick against Aston Villa, but how does he compare to Didier Drogba’s first Chelsea campaign?
Pedro struck three times and Cole Palmer also found the net as Chelsea kept their Champions League hopes alive, even though Opta still expects them to finish sixth.
The 22-year-old has now reached 10 goals in 12 games since Rosenior took over from Enzo Maresca in January, adding five assists during that stretch.
Drogba was brought in from Marseille back in 2004 by Jose Mourinho, who spent around £24 million on the striker. That move came just two years after Roman Abramovich took control of the club.
The Ivorian made an immediate impact on the pitch. Drogba scored 16 goals and provided eight assists across all competitions in his debut season at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time.
How João Pedro Compares to Didier Drogba’s First Season
This season has been full of changes at Stamford Bridge. Mauricio Pochettino left early on, replaced by Enzo Maresca – who later made way for Liam Rosenior mid-season. The Blues are still a long way off where they want to be, sitting well outside the title race once again.
Chelsea fans will be hoping their side can hit form down the final stretch and push into one of those top-four spots before May. If that happens, João Pedro will almost certainly be a big part of it.
Didier Drogba signed for Chelsea in 2004, after scoring 32 goals for Marseille in the previous campaign. He was part of a team that would go on to win the UEFA Cup.
Drogba played 41 times for Chelsea in his first season and contributed to 16 goals, including eight assists. It was a strong start to life in England.
On Wednesday night, Pedro made his 41st appearance for Chelsea since moving from Brighton last summer. Including Club World Cup matches, he now has 20 goals and nine assists this season.
João Pedro Continues to Score at an Impressive Rate
Pedro has been in strong scoring form, finding the net 20 times in 41 matches so far. With 12 games remaining on the schedule — not counting potential progression in the Champions League and FA Cup — there are plenty of chances left to add to his tally.
If he maintains his current scoring average, Pedro is projected to add around six more goals before the season wraps up. However, since Rosenior’s arrival, that number could climb higher if his recent form continues.
Since Rosenior took over, Pedro has registered 10 goals and five assists across just 12 appearances. It’s worth noting that he sat out FA Cup ties against Hull City and Charlton Athletic as Rosenior rotated the squad.
If Pedro keeps up this pace under Rosenior, he could be looking at eight more goals by season’s end. And with Chelsea still alive in multiple competitions, there may be even more opportunities to increase that total.
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