Joao Pedro injury leaves Xabi Alonso facing a Chelsea crisis

Stamford Bridge

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has been given a sharp reality check of life without Joao Pedro after his side suffered a painful 3-0 defeat against Brentford.

The 24-year-old striker picked up a knee injury during the second half of a match against Hull City when he landed awkwardly and collided with the goal frame.

A costly absence for the blues

Although Pedro managed to return to action and score an equaliser that day, he was later left off the training grass at Cobham and withdrew from the international squad.

His absence was keenly felt at the Gtech Community Stadium on Friday night as Danny Welbeck stepped into the starting lineup but failed to inspire a toothless visiting attack.

Comparing Pedro to the elite

Statistics from Gradient Sports highlight just how vital the Brazilian has become to this Chelsea team since arriving from Brighton last year.

Nobody in the division has been picking the ball up in threatening areas as often: 7.29 times per 90 minutes, a rate no other Premier League player has matched this season.

Speaking about his frontman earlier this month, Alonso told football.london:

In many things, he reminds me of Benzema, because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to his left side, he is good with the head, he is very complete, he is intelligent.

The Chelsea boss also elevated his star striker into the same elite bracket as last season’s Golden Boot winner.

When asked whether the forward could be compared to Erling Haaland, Alonso told football.london:

I would say yes. If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I’m sure that Joao is there, Haaland for sure is there. So I would rate him that way.

What next for Chelsea

It remains entirely unclear when Pedro will finally be deemed fit enough to return to first-team action for the Blues.

Alonso will be desperately hoping his talisman can recover over the international break ahead of a home fixture against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge.