Latest news with #JoaoPedro
The Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Club World Cup final: Cole Palmer stars as Chelsea thrash PSG 3-0
Cole Palmer scored two goals and made another as Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the Club World Cup, beating the European champions 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium to win the first edition of FIFA's new competition. PSG were the favourites for a game attended by Donald Trump after coming to the United States fresh from winning the UEFA Champions League and having destroyed Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-finals. But having been three goals ahead midway through the first half in the semis, this time the roles were reversed as PSG found themselves 3-0 down by the break. Palmer opened the scoring midway through the first half and struck again to make it two on the half-hour mark, before taking advantage of passive defending to set up Joao Pedro for the third on 43 minutes. A bad day for PSG was summed up when Joao Neves was shown red following a VAR review four minutes from the end for pulling Marc Cucurella by the hair off the ball. Cole Palmer celebrates scoring Chelsea's second goal in the Club World Cup final. Picture: Getty Images It was a scoreline that few could have predicted as Chelsea capped what has been a long but memorable season -- they are the first ever winners of the 32-team Club World Cup having also won the UEFA Conference League and finished fourth in the Premier League. They will also take away around $125 million in prize money, meaning the prospect of a drastically curtailed summer break before returning for next season will surely feel worth it. For PSG, meanwhile, the financial rewards are similar but there will be genuine disappointment at falling short of adding this title to their Champions League triumph and French league and cup double. Nevertheless, conquering Europe was always the main aim this season for Luis Enrique's team, who now have exactly a month to digest this and take a holiday before returning to action in the UEFA Super Cup against Tottenham Hotspur. There was a real sense of occasion at the MetLife Stadium, with the backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and with President Trump in attendance along with First Lady Melania Trump in a crowd of 81,118. There was even the first-ever half-time show at a FIFA tournament, adding a Super Bowl feel to a final played at the home of NFL sides the New York Giants and New York Jets. As for the football, for the second time in six weeks PSG found themselves involved in a final that quickly turned into a one-sided affair. The club claimed a historic 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final, but here they were ripped apart by Chelsea on another hot afternoon. Palmer almost put Chelsea ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, before PSG should have scored at the other end only for Desire Doue to try to pass to Achraf Hakimi rather than shoot inside the box, allowing Cucurella to block. Cole Palmer lifts the FIFA Club World Cup trophy after Chelsea's stunning victory. Picture: Getty Images It was Chelsea who struck in the 22nd minute as Malo Gusto got the better of Nuno Mendes down the right before seeing his shot blocked by Lucas Beraldo. The ball came back to Gusto and he teed up Palmer to finish into the bottom-left corner. Palmer has been the face of Chelsea on billboards in the United States during the tournament and he lived up to his star billing by scoring again on the half-hour. Released on the right with PSG left-back Mendes out of position, Palmer advanced towards the box before stroking a low shot into the same corner. Joao Pedro played a part in the build-up to that goal and the Brazilian, signed during the tournament from Brighton, then got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0. Scorer of both goals against Fluminense in the semi-finals, he clipped a shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma after being supplied by Palmer. PSG had conceded a single goal in their previous eight matches and they never really looked like producing a comeback, even if Neves headed just wide in first-half stoppage time. Substitute Liam Delap almost got a fourth for Chelsea midway through the second half, before Neves was shown red to complete a bad day for PSG.
The Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Why Joao Pedro is Dream Team flavour of the month as new season draws near
DREAM TEAM managers have a hard time keeping track of Chelsea's transfer activity these days. Predicting the Blues' fortunes amid a carousel of imports and exports is far from easy but it would be foolish to disregard them entirely as there are plenty of points to be had at Stamford Bridge. Our latest SCOUT REPORT focuses on Joao Pedro (£4.5m), the recent subject of a £60million transfer from Brighton to west London, a well-trodden path in recent years. 4 The Gameweek 1 deadline is still a way off yet but the Brazilian forward is a very popular man among gaffers already experimenting with various teams. An ownership of 41.5% makes him the third-most popular player at present! One reason for this is his Club World Cup heroics. Enzo Maresca's side were triumphant in New Jersey and Pedro played a decisive role upon his arrival with a brace against Fluminense in the semis and a goal against PSG in the final. Consequently, he has been instantly embraced by Chelsea fans and it seems his Dream Team stock is higher than ever ahead of the new campaign. 4 The 23-year-old has enjoyed spells of popularity in previous seasons, most notably in 2023/24 when he feasted in the additional competitions. Pedro scored 20 goals for the Seagulls that campaign, with 11 of them coming from just seven outings across the FA Cup and Europa League. During this fruitful period, he became one of the most successful forwards in Dream Team, provoking a tsunami of transfers. 2024/25 was less profitable but he hit double figures in the Premier League and many Dream Team bosses recruited him early on after he scored against Manchester United and Arsenal in August. In short, Pedro has been a player of interest for a while and the possibility of him getting plenty of minutes for one of the top flight's stronger teams is an intriguing prospect. 4 That being said, predicting game time is not all that easy where Chelsea are concerned. Pedro predominantly plays as a centre-forward but he is not an old-fashioned No9 who stays on the shoulder of the last defender. Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson are more traditional strikers in this sense, though the latter is linked with a move away this summer. More cautious gaffers may opt for patience and delay their assessment of Pedro's viability until his role at Chelsea has been established but the Club World Cup suggests he will get the nod in Gameweek 1. 4 One other aspect to monitor is the penalty pecking order. Pedro is statistically one of the best spot-kick takers in Europe having missed just one of 19 in his professional career. However, Palmer boasts the exact same record. One assumes the England international will continue as first-choice penalty taker but it will be interesting to see what happens if he misses one or two with Pedro on hand. Needless to say, prolific penalty takers are very popular in Dream Team. Palmer is one of just two players to feature in more teams than Pedro at the time of writing.
Telegraph
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Why Chelsea fans may want to rein in their expectations in the Premier League this season
Our expert analyses the various Chelsea markets offered by Paddy Power this season, from how many trophies the Blues could win to whether or not they can achieve a top-four finish in the Premier League. Already a Paddy Power member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Club World Cup winners are best avoided Before Chelsea's shock Club World Cup final win against Paris Saint-Germain, the Blues stood out to me as value to make the Premier League top four at odds-against. After all, they finished fourth last season and have strengthened their squad this summer, potentially resolving their forward conundrum with the additions of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. But betting is a value game and now that the Londoners are 4/7 to achieve a top-four finish, it is advised to swerve them. They are not far off the level of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City and even have it in them to challenge for the title, but there are too many variables at play to warrant a bet at that price. Winning the Club World Cup was a significant feat, but Chelsea – or any other decent Premier League club for that matter – would have been expected to win the fixtures they had up until the final. PSG then seemed to have an off day when it mattered and it is best not to draw too many conclusions from a competition that took place at the end of a long season and is still not valued particularly highly by some of Europe's biggest clubs. Tough decisions in store for Maresca Chelsea's scattergun approach to summer spending may mean they can plug gaps immediately in the transfer window, but there are still issues that need resolving ahead of next season. Teenage goalkeeper Mike Penders has arrived from Genk but is not going to slot straight into the first team and there are still concerns about that position with Robert Sanchez far from convincing. Moises Caicedo is crucial to the Chelsea cause but was able to play all 38 league games last term and a Rodri-like absence would surely derail the Blues given their lack of back-up quality beyond Romeo Lavia, who has had injury problems of his own. And while Delap and Pedro are both smart signings with proven Premier League experience, finding a way to keep harmony among his plethora of forwards could give Enzo Maresca a bit of a headache. Top scorers at this summer's Club World Cup. 🔥 — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 23, 2025 Premier League rivals getting stronger Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City were the three best teams in the Premier League last season and have all strengthened over the summer with the likes of Florian Wirtz, Rayan Cherki and Martín Zubimendi arriving. Anything can happen in the top flight, but the strength at the top means fourth could well be the best Chelsea can hope for and they will not be short of competition in the battle for the Champions League places. Depending on whether they retain Alexander Isak, Newcastle United could be a force again, while both Tottenham Hotspur, under new management with Thomas Frank, and Manchester United, who have brought in Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, should have better campaigns. It is plausible that Chelsea find themselves in a situation where other competitions take precedence over the league later in the season. Therefore, if punters are going to get involved in any market, backing the Blues to win either the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup or Champions League at 2/1 with Paddy Power would be the most advisable play. Check out our analysis of the Premier League's top goalscorer contenders for this season Chelsea multiple trophies 2025-26 No trophies @ 4/11 Win Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup or Champions League @ 2/1 FA Cup & League Cup @ 40/1 FA Cup & Champions League @ 40/1 League Cup & Champions League @ 40/1 Premier League & FA Cup @ 50/1 60/1 bar Odds courtesy of Paddy Power Other Chelsea markets 2025-26 To win Premier League @ 8/1 To finish in top two @ 11/4 To finish in top four @ 4/7 To finish in top five @ 2/7 To go unbeaten in English Premier League 2025-26 @ 150/1 Odds courtesy of Paddy Power. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chelsea winners and losers from Club World Cup as key transfer question answered
Chelsea won the Club World Cup in spectacular fashion on Sunday as they put Paris Saint-Germain to the sword in a one-sided final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The Blues were far from the favourites heading into the inaugural edition of the expanded 32-team competition but grew into it and beat the European kings in its showpiece to be crowned champions of the world. Cole Palmer scored twice and Joao Pedro once as Chelsea comprehensively dispatched PSG in the final. Plenty of players boosted their chances of regular game time in the coming season, but that did come at the expense of one or two others. Here, Standard Sport assesses the biggest winners and losers from Chelsea's trophy-winning campaign across the pond. Winners Joao Pedro The biggest winner of the month. He has been a Chelsea player for less than a fortnight, but Joao Pedro has already made quite an impact. The £60million signing from Brighton was recruited as a versatile forward but after just three appearances and two starts may have already claimed the role of Chelsea's starting striker for himself, ahead of Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap. His three goals — two against Fluminense and one against PSG — were all very confidently taken and his movement off the ball is sure to keep causing defences real problems. Liam Delap Delap's arrival from Ipswich for £30m appeared to represent Chelsea signing a striker of a similar level to Jackson, and it left many fans confused as to which would top the pecking order in manager Enzo Maresca's mind. The last month has suggested that it will very much be Delap who gets the bulk of the game time. His goal against ES Tunis in the group stage was a fine example of his use of strength and physicality, while appearances off the bench later in the tournament showed he is up for the fight for starts against fellow new recruit Pedro. Robert Sanchez If Sanchez came into the competition with questions over his continued status as Chelsea's No1, he comes out of it in fine fettle. Sanchez won the Golden Glove for his performances at the Club World Cup, and Opta data shows that conceding only five goals from an expected tally of 9.2 meant he prevented more than any other goalkeeper in the tournament, including Thibaut Courtois, Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Donnarumma. Sanchez was only starting because the Blues failed to get a deal over the line to sign Mike Maignan, but the Chelsea hierarchy may feel now that there is no need to seek out a new No1. Pedro Neto No Chelsea player scored more goals at the Club World Cup than Pedro Neto, whose three strikes were as many as Palmer and Pedro tallied. The Portuguese winger has proven himself incredibly versatile over the past month, stretching defences and adding a goal threat whether deployed down the left wing or unleashed on the right. The arrival of Jamie Gittens and imminent sale of Noni Madueke cancel out, as far as Neto is concerned. He can expect to have greater prominence next season than he did last term, the turn of the year having seen him really step up. Losers Nicolas Jackson This has been a magnificent month for Chelsea. It has been a rather disastrous one for Jackson. The striker has rather tested the patience of much of the fanbase over the past two years but ultimately retained his place throughout as the starting striker because a better alternative was nowhere to be seen. Now, though, there is one, if not two centre forwards ahead of him in Maresca's thinking. While it is hard to see Chelsea selling the Senegal international this summer as things stand, it is equally hard to see how he can remain the first-choice No9 after Delap and Pedro's goals and performances, plus another needless Jackson red card against Flamengo. Filip Jorgensen Jorgensen may have been the man in goal when Chelsea won their first piece of silverware under Maresca, the Conference League in May, but that was his reward for playing throughout that European campaign rather than an indication that he was moving ahead of Sanchez in the manager's thinking. The Danish international was always reasonably unlikely to become the new No1 ahead of next season, and that likelihood has decreased even further following Sanchez's inspired performances in the US. If Chelsea go on to sign any more goalkeepers between now and September 1, Jorgensen risks being demoted to third choice.
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Chelsea set transfer price for forward Liverpool chief agreed deal to sign
The future of Nicolas Jackson at Chelsea remains uncertain after the signings of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro as the Blues have reportedly set their price for the Senegalese striker The Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes tried to sign Nicolas Jackson while in charge of transfers at Bournemouth. That move didn't materialise, but now the Chelsea forward could be on the move again. The 24-year-old has enjoyed two respectable seasons at Stamford Bridge, scoring 31 goals in 80 games across all competitions. Yet doubt has remained over whether Jackson can become the striker needed to fire Chelsea to the biggest trophies in the game, leading Enzo Maresca to sign Liam Delap and Joao Pedro this summer. Jackson saw minimal action during Chelsea's triumph of the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this month, having not featured at all in the quarter-final against Palmeiras and the final against Paris Saint-Germain, with Joao Pedro now first choice. With the striker's future in west London seeming rocky, the Blues have outlined their price to sell the ex-Villarreal man - a cool £80million. Jackson has interest from clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia, but with eight years left on his contract, Chelsea remain under no pressure to sell the striker. Among his potential suitors are Manchester United, who've allegedly contacted his agents to sound out a possible move. Sky Sports add that it was Liverpool's £79m agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt to sign Hugo Ekitike that acted as a benchmark for the fee Chelsea are demanding for Jackson's signature. Jackson's superior goal contributions over the past two seasons - in a league Blues bosses believe is tougher than the Bundesliga - has led them to their assessment. Jackson has racked up 34 goal contributions over the last two Premier League seasons, five more than Ekitike's 29 during his entire spell with Frankfurt. And while the Frenchman is set to be the Reds' new striker, Jackson was once a top target for Hughes during his days as the sporting director of Bournemouth. During Jackson's tenure at Villarreal, he caught the eye of Hughes who agreed a £20.3m fee to sign for the striker for the Cherries in January 2023. It was another south coast club in Southampton that looked set to buy Jackson but a move failed to materialise thanks to Hughes' intervention. A deal looked almost complete following footage of the striker boarding a private jet to the UK in order to wrap up negotiations. However, due to a hamstring injury that was discovered in his medical, Bournemouth opted to cancel the transfer. Given their position in a relegation battle, the club decided against waiting for Jackson's return from injury in the worry that they'd lose their Premier League status. That didn't happen either, but come the following summer Hughes missed out, and Jackson went to west London instead.
