Chelsea’s Pedro: A farewell to a rare athlete

Chelsea’s Pedro has won it all, both with and without the Blues. The player is departing and it is time for a farewell to the rare athlete.

The World Cup, the Euros, three Champions Leagues (2009, 2011, 2015), the Premier League, the FA Cup, five La Ligas (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015), a series Spanish Super Cups (2009-2014), two Club World Cups (2010, 2012), the Europa League 2019, and five UEFA Super Cups (2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016). That is 36 major trophies to his name: Pedro Rodriguez. Pedro is the definition of multi talented. When work rate meets skill, elegance and humility, you get Pedro Rodriguez. He has an outrageous trophy cabinet to show for it too.

Pedro doesn’t just have a ridiculous trophy cabinet; he is a trophy cabinet. To date, Pedro is the most decorated player to play in the Premier League. He has won all major trophies locally and globally. He excelled under excellent managers like Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte, managers that demand the world, yet Pedro still featured heavily in their plans. He always kept his head down and worked hard. He didn’t get involved in media squabbles, didn’t fight teammates unnecessarily.

Pedro arrived at Chelsea in August 2015 when Jose Mourinho was still manager. Mourinho would be sacked midseason. Since arriving at Chelsea, Pedro has won a Premier League, a Europa League and an FA Cup. He was crucial to Antonio Conte’s Premier League and FA Cup victory. He was a fixture in Maurizio Sarri’s Europa League winning side.

Pedro was a leader. A huge trophy cabinet meant that he could stay calm in all situations. He has been there and done that. His rich skill set meant that he offered his managers/coaches options of many styles of play. His intelligence and work rate meant he would be valuable in a team that needed to press high. Defensive acumen meant that he was valuable in teams that needed to sit deep and launch lightening quick counters. His speed was valuable in said counter attacks. His excellent link up play meant that the was valuable in playing quick passing, expansive football.

Is it a coincidence that he featured heavily for two managers that were associated with playing styles on opposite ends of the football spectrum? In the 2009/10 La Liga season, Pedro made 34 appearances, making 17 goal involvements (12 goals, five assists) for Guardiola’s Barcelona. In the 2016/17 season, Pedro made 35 appearances, registering 18 goal involvements (nine goals, nine assists) for Conte’s Chelsea. That says it all.

Pedro is an excellent team player, meaning that he is always ready to contribute to the team when called upon. Chelsea would be losing a valuable backup, an answer to many awkward situations, and as well as role model for the younger members of the youth revolution.

Pedro has spent five seasons at Chelsea, making 205 appearances, scoring 45 goals and assisting 28 times in all competitions. Pedro has picked up 17 yellow cards and red cards for Chelsea. He has won three trophies in Blue. Pedro is a rare player. His ability to curl the ball expertly with both feet was astonishing (Tottenham Hotspur would tell you about it). His work rate is on par with box to box midfielders. His determination to leave everything on the pitch was apparent in all his appearances. He never seemed to stop running. He dripped with technical quality. We can’t even say for sure that Pedro was given as much credit as he deserved, both as a Chelsea player and as a footballer overall.

These qualities have not left him. He will continue to exhibit them and win the hearts of the Roma fans. He’d continue to occupy a special place in the hearts of Chelsea fans. A true model professional. A good man. An excellent footballer. A hard working athlete. Most importantly, a winner. Pedro Rodriguez.