Eager to return to Barcelona three months ago but now star in a Chelsea side that have won 12 games on the row, The Story Of Pedro Rodriguez
Life is full of uncertainties but this uncertainty is nothing compared to the one experienced in football with no one unable to predict the future.
“Hopefully I can return to Barce. I know it’s difficult, I spoke with the president when we saw each other at the Cup final and I also spoke with all the people who love me there.”
“It’s complicated, but I’ve always said I would like to retire at Barce,” this is the statement of Pedro Rodriguez in the summer (June) as he clamoured for a move back to former club Barcelona after an underwhelming debut season in Chelsea where he played under two different coaches scoring eight goals in 40 appearances in all competitions last season.
Fast forward to the present and the same winger had this to say, “I have worked with many managers, but this is the one (Antonio Conte) who has made us (Chelsea teammates) train the hardest definately. But it’s very good because you can see the result of it (12 league wins in a row).”
“It is not just me but everyone in the team is physically fit right now ,” he concluded. Now a regular in attack in Conte’s 3-4-3 formation alongside the likes of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard, Pedro is in the form of his life impressing for the club on a regular basis scoring four goals and providing five assists in front of the home fans in Stamford Bridge which is the most for any Chelsea player (goal involvement) at home this season even though Diego Costa has scored 13 goals in 17 league games. At 29, Pedro is in his prime and from his performance it can be said that the £25 million Chelsea paid Barcelona for his services is a bargain as his work ethic, ability to play both feet, pace, shot accuracy and ball control has made him one of the stars of not just Chelsea but the Premier League as a whole not forgetting his November Goal of the Month against Tottenham in Stamford Bridge.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Spaniard was equally decisive in the 3-0 routing of Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth on Boxing Day. The former Barcelona attacker opened the scoring with a left footed curling loop before adding a second to make the score line 3-0 towards the end of game as Chelsea made it 12 wins in a row as well as topping the league. With Eden Hazard playing in attack, making it easy for Chelsea fans to forget the absence of Costa. Together with Hazard, Pedro combined his technical skills (pace and ability to retain possession) with his tactical prowess (positioning and chance creation) which made him the star of the match with the exception of Hazard. One blemish for the midfielder is the fact he is suspended for Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League game against Stoke City given he was issued his fifth yellow card of the season in the Boxing Day game against Bournemouth.
With his contract expiring in 2019 and his continued importance and improved form for Chelsea it is highly unlikely the West London side will allow the winger return to Barcelona anytime soon.
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