PSG captain Marquinhos has fired a warning ahead of their FIFA Club World Cup final against Chelsea on July 13 in new York, picking out forward João Pedro as their key danger-man. Furthermore, with Chelsea on course for their second Club World Cup title, Brazilian defender believes Pedro could be the man who makes the difference.
Marquinhos Praises Pedro’s Threat
Speaking ahead of the final, Marquinhos said, “I already knew about the qualities of João Pedro. He is a big physical player who is also technical and has very good movement.” He described Chelsea’s in-form striker as “very complete” and said PSG’s defenders would be concentrating on trying to snuff him out.
Moreover, the two players know each other from their time in Brazil’s national team setup and Marquinhos said it was no surprise to see how quickly Pedro adapted at Chelsea. “Of course, we’ll need to keep an eye on him—just like we do with all world-class threats,” he cautioned.
Pedro’s adaptability and his sharp instincts in the attacking third also present a very different challenge even for experienced defenders, he added. PSG may adjust its defensive shape going ahead slightly to prevent the spaces Pedro traditionally enjoys between the lines, he suggested.
Pedro Shining Bright Ahead of PSG Clash
Chelsea signed João Pedro this summer for £60m from Brighton. Since then, he has wasted no time making an impression, coming off the bench to score two goals in the semi-final, against Fluminense. His displays have attracted attention from Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca, who has labelled him as a “modern forward with the physicality and intelligence to change a game.”
Pedro also scored in Chelsea’s previous Club World Cup meeting, against Palmeiras. João Pedro has been integral to Chelsea getting this far, with the club having already banked an estimated £86m of combined prize money and commercial revenue.
The final, staged at a sold-out MetLife Stadium, offers bragging rights on a global scale up for grabs in what is certain to be a high-stakes encounter.
As featured on Chelseanews.com
