Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea need to do this to make Joao Pedro ‘play better’

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Chelsea fans will hope their side can end the next round of Premier League fixtures in the top four, with the Blues back in action on Saturday with a home clash against Sunderland.

The Stamford Bridge side have shown signs of improvement this season under Enzo Maresca, with a recent win over champions Liverpool showing the London side can play a role in the title race in 2025-26.

Chelsea signed Joao Pedro over the summer to diversify their attacking options, with the Brazil international featuring in all eight Premier League games this season so far.

However, Maresca has admitted an impending tactical tweak could get the best out of the South American forward.

Pedro better as a 10

The former Brighton forward has scored twice and provided three assists for Chelsea in the Premier League this season, in a relatively promising start to life at Stamford Bridge.

However, Pedro has been forced to play in a number of positions, both as a number nine and a number ten, which has perhaps prevented him from getting into a rhythm.

Liam Delap was signed in the summer to compete for the main striker position but has suffered injury, while Marc Guiu is still developing.

Ahead of the game with Sunderland, BBC Sport quote Maresca as admitting that Pedro ‘plays better’ in the withdrawn role rather than as the figurehead of the Chelsea attack.

Delap return can unleash Pedro

Maresca has admitted Delap won’t be fit enough to feature this weekend but the Chelsea forward is on the verge of a return from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him in recent months.

This can only be a positive thing for the Blues and could well be the key to unleashing Pedro’s superb creativity and movement.

Delap is an out-and-out goalscorer who is happy to run in behind defences and wait for his chances to score, while Pedro wants to be more involved in general play and get on the ball.

The pair look like an ideal striking partnership for Chelsea and with a packed fixture schedule over the next month, Maresca will hope Delap is ready to return in a week’s time for the visit to London rivals Tottenham.