Pedro is in a race against time bid to be fit for Chelsea’s Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday, it has been confirmed.
Assistant manager Gianfranco Zola has revealed the key attacker is still struggling with the shoulder injury he sustained in the Blues’ Europa League clash against PAOK last Thursday.
Pedro was sidelined for last Sunday’s goalless draw at West Ham and Zola revealed at his Chelsea media conference at lunchtime on Tuesday, as quoted by the club’s official Twitter account, he’s he’s likely to miss the first match of the double-header against Liverpool in the League Cup on Wednesday night.
Zola confirms tomorrow is a chance for players who have not played so much this season, but it will still be a strong team. Loftus-Cheek, Rudiger and Pedro are doubts due to injury. Hazard will be part of the squad.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 25, 2018
OPINION
Significant numbers of Chelsea fans have not been totally bowled over by Pedro during his three-and-a-bit years at the club. They believe the Barcelona academy product is capable of great things, but is let down by slackness in and around the penalty box. Sarri views things differently and is desperate to have the Spaniard back for Liverpool this weekend. “Pedro, for us, is very important because he is the best player we have with movement without the ball,” Sarri said after the West Ham stalemate, as quoted by Football London. “So, in this moment of the season, Pedro is a very important player. We are trying to have him at the end of the week, but I don’t know at the moment.” Many will quibble whether the forward deserves such elevated status or billing. But three goals from six Chelsea matches this season demonstrate his cutting edge and why he has emerged as the favoured option on the right winger ahead of crowd favourite Willian. His work ethic and appreciation of space has won over Sarri and it’s clear he will start against Liverpool on Sunday if fully recovered from his shoulder injury.