Xabi Alonso rates Joao Pedro on par with Haaland and likens him to Benzema after Premier League player of the month award

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has placed Joao Pedro in the company of Erling Haaland and Karim Benzema after the Brazilian striker claimed the Premier League’s player of the month award for August, having scored twice and assisted twice in his opening three league games.

Asked in a press conference whether Pedro belonged in the same category as Manchester City’s Haaland — who claimed last season’s golden boot with 27 goals — Alonso did not hesitate. “I would say yes,” the Chelsea boss replied. “If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I am sure that Joao is there. So I would rate him that way.”

Alonso, who took charge at Stamford Bridge in the summer, also drew a personal comparison to his former Real Madrid team-mate Benzema — a player who scored 354 goals in 658 appearances across 14 years at the Santiago Bernabéu, winning four La Liga titles, five Champions Leagues, and the 2022 Ballon d’Or.

“In many things he reminds me of Benzema,” Alonso said. “Because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to the left side, he is good with the head. He is very complete and he is intelligent.”

The 24-year-old has formed a dynamic front three alongside Cole Palmer and £117m summer signing Morgan Rogers, and Alonso was keen to highlight qualities beyond the statistics. “Not just football-wise, personality-wise. His maturity, his desire. He has a very strong goal this year: to have a great season, to score many goals, and to be a nominee for not just this month but more months.”

Alonso acknowledged that Pedro still has room to grow, but left little doubt about his current assessment. “He still has things to develop. But he has many, many absolutely outstanding qualities,” he added. “I am not surprised, but really happy with the kind of player that we have here with Joao.”