João Pedro stated that Chelsea's crucial goal at the right moment was the decisive factor in their victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday, allowing them to control the game. Chelsea left south London with three points, with Esteban Willian, João Pedro, and Enzo Fernández securing the win through penalties. This victory briefly propelled Chelsea into the top four of the Premier League, but Manchester United subsequently overtook them after defeating Arsenal.  

If Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta had capitalized on his one-on-one opportunity when the score was still 0-0 in the first half, the course of the game might have been different. However, Rob Sanchez made a timely save with his leg, denying Mateta's shot and helping his team hold on to their lead, allowing Chelsea to gradually take control of the game.  

Chelsea's attack displayed a strong Samba flair, with João Pedro's Brazilian compatriot Esteban Willian breaking the deadlock. The young player capitalized on a misplaced pass, quickly advancing to the edge of the penalty area before decisively slotting the ball past Dean Henderson.  

This goal gave Chelsea a lead going into halftime. Just as João Pedro noted, the team gave Crystal Palace no room to adjust and quickly converted their advantage into a goal after the start of the second half. Esteban Willian provided the assist, and the number 20 dribbled into the penalty area and calmly slotted the ball into the net, extending the lead to 2-0.  

João Pedro's goal was impressive and proved the value of the club's summer signing from Brighton. While the striker was pleased with his goal, he stated that the team's overall performance and the precious three points were what truly pleased him.  

He said: "This is a very important victory for us, and everyone put in a lot of effort for these three points. The timing of the goal helped us control the game. We did a good job defensively at the beginning of the game and didn't give the opponent many opportunities, but after Esteban Willian scored, we were able to control the situation more calmly and maintain our lead."  

"This laid the foundation for our game, allowing the team to organize our attacks and defenses more effectively. After scoring the second goal in the second half, we basically controlled the tempo of the game, and the three points we ultimately earned were well-deserved. Scoring so early in the second half was crucial because it meant Crystal Palace didn't have time to adjust, and we were then able to control the game."  

“This once again illustrates the importance of crucial moments in the game. With the score still 0-0, we needed Rob Sanchez to make that key save. If that ball had gone in, the game could have been much tougher for us. But he made a brilliant save, which laid the foundation for our subsequent attacks. As I said, once we scored, we felt like we had the game in control.”  

“Scoring a goal is certainly gratifying, but for me, the most important thing is to help the team get three points. As a striker, you always crave goals, and I believe I have the ability to shoot when I get the chance. When Esteban Willian passed the ball to me, I was confident that I could take that opportunity, and I'm happy to have scored and contributed to the team.”  

This victory gave Chelsea their third consecutive win across all competitions, and the team now faces a crucial Champions League match against Napoli. Under manager Liam Rosseneil, the team has had an excellent start to the season. João Pedro also admitted that he is thoroughly enjoying playing and living under his new manager.  

He added: “We are making good progress under the new manager and the whole team is enjoying life here. He is very important to us and we are happy to work with him. Playing for Chelsea, you naturally want to win, and the manager has emphasized that. I am happy here and hope the team can continue to move forward. First, we need to prepare for Wednesday’s crucial Champions League match against Napoli, and I believe the manager will make sure the team is well prepared.”  

Image source: Internet/Chelsea official website