Cesar Azpilicueta has backed Chelsea new boy Pedro to improve on his “amazing” start with the club while insisting he does not fear for his place after the signing of left-back Baba Rahman from Augsburg.
Pedro hit the ground running for Chelsea on Sunday, scoring after just 20 minutes against West Brom at The Hawthorns. Within half an hour, the winger had set up Diego Costa to score his first of the season, rounding off a sparkling first half display from the Spaniard.
Azpilicueta also got on the scoresheet before the break, scoring his first Premier League goal for the club, and was not surprised with Pedro’s immediate impact in the game. Speaking to The Guardian, he said:
I know him very well and he fits into the team very well. I know his ambition, he is hungry to help the team, win trophies and I know the way he started the first game is amazing.
The left-back also believes his Spanish team-mate has even more to give to The Blues this season, when he was asked if Pedro can build on his debut performance, Azpilicueta said:
He will do. He has trained one week, he played his first game, he is discovering the Premier League and I’m sure he will get better.
Another player looking to make his Chelsea debut next weekend is Baba Rahman. The young full-back has been training with the squad since last Tuesday, but with Ivanovic’s recent performances coming under criticism from both his manager and the media, Azpilicueta is likely to keep his place in the team, even if it means moving to the right-hand side.
When Chelsea signed him in 2012, Azpilicueta was originally used on the right, before switching across to the left flank to accommodate Branislav Ivanovic instead.
The Spaniard has welcomed the competition for places in the squad and admitted that he would be happy to swap back to the right side to help Rahman:
I am confident to keep working, keep doing my job. I know the competition is good for the team. I had a few great players around me. At the end hopefully the team will be better.
With Chelsea hosting Crystal Palace on Saturday, Mourinho may be willing to hand Rahman his debut, likely at the expense of Ivanovic at right-back, after his poor start to the season.
