Player Focus: Pedro The Right Winger Mourinho has Craved Since Chelsea Return

The right wing role has been something of a problematic position for Chelsea. In recent seasons, a number of players have attempted to make the position their own under Jose Mourinho, yet failed to have the desired effect on the flank, resulting in something of a revolving door policy at Stamford Bridge. Andre Schürrle’s directness was an asset, though an extended spell on the sidelines due to a virus saw him not only lose muscle mass, but his spot in the starting XI.

Willian has undubtedly been the most successful performer in the role in Mourinho’s second spell at the club, but the Brazilian is arguably better suited to a more central role. Mohamed Salah and Juan Cuadrado both came and went with a whimper as Chelsea struggled to sign the right player for the right flank. The problem, though, appears to be rectified through the signing of Pedro.

The Spaniard was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United as numerous reports in recent weeks stated Louis van Gaal’s side were closing in on the signature of the Barcelona star. However, Chelsea beat their Premier League rivals to his signature, confirming his signing last Friday before Pedro went straight into the starting XI for the Blues’ trip to West Brom.

It was certainly a debut to remember for the former Barca-man. Only James Morrison (8.23) gained a better WhoScored rating than the 28-year-old (8.21) at the Hawthorns, who took just 20 minutes to net in his first match in England’s top-tier.

After coming through the ranks and winning countless trophies for Barcelona, Pedro saw his first team opportunities limited due to the emergence of the Blaugrana’s scalpel-sharp offensive trident of Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. As such, a move away from Camp Nou came as little shock and while he would have been an excellent pick up for United, he is just the winger Mourinho needs for Chelsea.

He offers a similar directness to that of Schürrle from the right, but can perhaps be considered a more consistent performer than the German. While he was restricted to just 1531 minutes of league action for Barcelona last season, a return of 6 goals and 6 assists were both notable figures for a player who was largely on the peripheries of the first team. Rather than focusing on his attacking qualities, though, it is Pedro’s work off the ball that will have appealed to Mourinho.

The Chelsea boss demands those on the right flank offer greater defensive protection than on the left, with Eden Hazard granted a license to roam freely across the offensive third. This is made possible by Cesar Azpilicueta’s hesitancy to press forward, instead aiding the defence as Branislav Ivanovic bombs forward at any given opportunity to aid the attack.   

While not the flashiest of wingers, Pedro does the simple things effectively, with ‘passing’ a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of his - his pass success rate has dropped below 85% in just one of his last seven league seasons - and ‘likes to play short passes’ a style of play. With ‘holding on to the ball’ another strength, Pedro has the ability to ward off interest from opposition defenders and is clearly capable of retaining possession, releasing the ball at the right time to help his team. Not only will this help Chelsea create chances in the attacking third, but minimize the opportunity for the Blues to be caught short at the back.

With Ivanovic pressing forward with intent, there is the risk that the Serb would be caught out of position, thus allowing opponents to spring counter attacks and with the 31-year-old’s advancing years, this was clearly becoming a detriment for the defending champions. Cuadrado and Salah were often guilty of over complicating the issue, as a result handing the onus toward the opposition. Schürrle, meanwhile, would shirk his defensive responsibilities, which would ramp up the pressure on the backline.

Willian’s tenacity allowed him to assist on the right flank, but then Oscar’s increasingly uninterested approach to defending posed a similar problem in a more central area, thus increasing the pressure on Nemanja Matic to stifle opposition attacks. In Pedro, however, Mourinho finally has at his disposal a winger who is more than willing to carry out his off-the-ball duties for the good of the team. The industriousness he brings to the frontline will allow the Blues to create more goalscoring chances as Chelsea defend from the front in order to ease the burden on those further back.

An average of one tackle every 68.3 minutes in the last seven league seasons is a commendable return, while two tackles on his debut - the joint-most of Chelsea players against West Brom - proves he is willing to get stuck in when required, as the above heat map against the Baggies highlights. When factoring in his versatility in attack, this only accentuates his potential importance to the club.

As Chelsea look to kick start their campaign following a disappointing beginning to their title defence, Pedro could be just the player to provide the impetus in attack for the Blues. His selflessness and work ethic clearly appealed to Mourinho and it’s fair to say the Portuguese manager finally has the right winger required to match his needs at Stamford Bridge.

How will Pedro fare in the Premier League? Can he build on his impressive debut display against West Brom? Let us know in the comments below