“Technically and physically, he has all the tools. If he stays on this trajectory, there is no telling how good he can be.” Liam Rosenior hasn’t just improved Joao Pedro—he’s claimed the 24-year-old could reach “world-class” status by the end of the season!

The transformation has been nothing short of breathtaking. In the space of six weeks, Liam Rosenior has taken a player struggling for confidence and turned him into a potential “world-class” striker who is now firing Chelsea toward an unlikely Champions League charge. The quotes are in, the stats are staggering, and the football world is taking notice.

 

**”Technically and physically, he has all the tools. If he stays on this trajectory, there is no telling how good he can be.”**

 

That assessment, now circulating through every Chelsea fan’s social media feed, captures the magnitude of Joao Pedro’s evolution under Rosenior’s guidance. The 24-year-old Brazilian has been reborn—and his manager believes the sky is the limit .

 

## The Numbers That Prove the Transformation

 

Since Rosenior’s arrival in January 2026, Pedro has been nothing short of sensational :

 

| Period | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Goal Involvement |

|——–|————-|——-|———|——————|

| Last 8 matches (all comps) | 8 | 6 | 4 | 10 |

| Under Rosenior (total) | 9 | 6 | 1 + 3 pens won | 10+ |

 

These aren’t merely good numbers—they’re **elite output** that places Pedro among the Premier League’s most in-form attackers. He has already matched his tally of ten league goals from last season at Brighton, proving that his ceiling is far higher than previously imagined .

 

## Rosenior’s Full “World-Class” Verdict

 

Speaking ahead of today’s crucial Premier League clash with Burnley, Rosenior delivered a series of statements that have sent shockwaves through the fanbase :

 

**”For Joao, he’s had real rhythm. I’ve asked him to do different things and he’s taken it on board and he’s put it into practice. He’s been outstanding.”**

 

But it was his next words that truly ignited the frenzy:

 

**”The true test for Joao now is that the exciting thing for him is if he can maintain this level of intensity, if he can maintain this level of quality, and the quality’s never been in doubt, he could be one of the best strikers in world football.”**

 

And then the kicker:

 

**”I truly believe that.”**

 

This is not throwaway praise or routine manager-speak. This is a **deliberate, calculated declaration of faith** in a player who has responded to every challenge Rosenior has thrown at him.

 

## How Maresca Talked Him Down, Rosenior Built Him Up

 

The contrast between Enzo Maresca’s approach and Rosenior’s could not be starker—and it’s the key to understanding Pedro’s transformation.

 

According to journalist Matt Law, speaking on the *London Is Blue* podcast, the difference is fundamental :

 

**”Rosenior seems to have made a real point with him. He is very big on talking and meeting with someone. I think he said it himself, or I’ve had it told to me, that he’s met with Joao Pedro more than any other player. He constantly seems to have Joao Pedro in his office and talks to him.”**

 

Law then dropped the bombshell comparison:

 

**”So it feels like he arrived with a real bee in his bonnet to get more out of Joao Pedro. He is very encouraging about him and to him, and really managed to inject confidence into him.”**

 

The key difference? Role clarity :

 

**”Unlike Enzo Maresca, who ‘talked Joao Pedro down’ as a number nine and spoke about him as a hybrid number 10, Rosenior seems very clear that the Brazil international is his first-choice striker. That seems to have really given Joao Pedro a massive jolt of confidence.”**

 

The message is unmistakable: Maresca saw a utility player; Rosenior sees a **world-class striker in the making**. And Pedro is repaying that faith with every performance.

 

## The Tactical Evolution: From Hybrid to True No.9

 

The Athletic’s detailed tactical analysis reveals the fascinating evolution in Pedro’s game under Rosenior . The data tells a compelling story:

 

| Shot Profile | 2024-25 | 2025-26 (under Rosenior) | Change |

|————–|———|————————|——–|

| Shots from outside box | 21% | 11% | -10% |

| Headed attempts | 13% | 27% | +14% |

| Conversion rate | 21% | 22% | +1% |

 

Pedro is now taking shots from **better areas, closer to goal**, and his headed attempts have more than doubled . His 22% conversion rate (excluding penalties) is the **most efficient of any Premier League player with 10+ goals this season** .

 

The tactical shift is equally significant. Pedro’s dropping-off runs have reduced dramatically while his **runs in behind and crosses received have increased**—clear evidence that he is embracing the role of a true No.9 .

 

His two-goal masterclass against Napoli in the Champions League exemplified this evolution . The first was a thunderous strike from range, the second a clinical finish after a perfectly timed run in behind. Both demonstrated the complete striker’s toolkit.

 

## The Palmer Partnership: Chemistry That Terrifies Defences

 

Crucially, Pedro’s resurgence has coincided with Cole Palmer’s return to full fitness. The two have developed an on-pitch chemistry that is proving devastating for opposition defences .

 

Palmer has spoken openly about how much he enjoys playing with Pedro, and the visual evidence is compelling. Their understanding—Palmer’s vision combined with Pedro’s intelligent movement—creates opportunities that neither could manufacture alone .

 

Against Leeds United recently, Pedro produced a classic two-stage striker’s move: an innocuous diagonal jog that caused his marker to switch off, followed by a dart in behind to meet Palmer’s pass and dink the ball over the keeper . It was the kind of movement that separates good strikers from great ones.

 

## The Champions League Context: Can He Fire Chelsea to Glory?

 

The question now reverberating through Stamford Bridge is whether Pedro can maintain this trajectory and fire Chelsea to an improbable Champions League title charge.

 

Chelsea sit fifth in the Premier League with 44 points, just one point behind fourth-placed Manchester United . They have won seven of their last nine matches across all competitions, with their only defeat coming narrowly against league leaders Arsenal .

 

In the Champions League, Chelsea finished sixth in the league phase, securing automatic qualification for the round of 16 . They will face one of Qarabag, Monaco, Newcastle, or Paris Saint-Germain in the knockout stages .

 

The path is difficult but navigable. And with Pedro in this form, Chelsea possess a striker capable of deciding tight knockout ties.

 

## The “World-Class” Target: What It Means

 

Rosenior’s claim that Pedro could become “one of the best strikers in world football” is not casual hyperbole. It’s a **deliberate statement of ambition** .

 

The Brazilian’s all-round game is already exceptional. He combines :

 

– **Intelligent off-ball movement**: Constantly asking questions of defenders

– **Technical security**: Comfortable in tight spaces, capable of linking play

– **Physical presence**: Strong enough to hold off defenders, quick enough to run behind

– **Clinical finishing**: Converting chances at an elite rate

 

The only remaining question is whether he can scale up his shot volume. At 2.1 attempts per 90 minutes, he takes roughly half the shots of Erling Haaland . If Rosenior can unlock even greater aggressiveness in front of goal, the ceiling is genuinely limitless.

 

## What Comes Next: The Burnley Test

 

Today’s match against Burnley at Stamford Bridge offers another opportunity for Pedro to continue his remarkable run . The Clarets are languishing in 19th place, having won just once in their last six league matches . A Chelsea victory would pile pressure on the teams above them.

 

Rosenior has confirmed that Pedro is fresh and ready, having been rested in the FA Cup victory over Hull City . With Palmer also fit and available, Burnley face the unenviable task of containing the Premier League’s most in-form attacking partnership.

 

## The Verdict: A Star Is Born

 

**”I truly believe he can be one of the best in world football.”**

 

Those words from Liam Rosenior will echo through Stamford Bridge for the remainder of the season. They represent not just faith in a player, but a **philosophical statement** about what Chelsea are building.

 

Under Maresca, Pedro was a hybrid, a utility option, a player whose role was never quite clear. Under Rosenior, he is the **undisputed No.9**, the focal point of the attack, the player around whom Chelsea’s Champions League hopes revolve.

 

The results speak for themselves: six goals in eight matches, a partnership with Palmer that terrifies defences, and a trajectory pointing firmly toward the elite level Rosenior envisions.

 

Whether Pedro can maintain this level and fire Chelsea to Champions League glory remains to be seen. But for the first time in years, Stamford Bridge has a striker who makes the impossible feel possible.

 

The “world-class” target has been set. Joao Pedro is chasing it down. And Liam Rosenior, the manager who believed when others doubted, is right there with him every step of the way.

 

Chelsea’s Champions League charge is officially on. 😤🔵🏆