Alonso likens Joao Pedro to Benzema and compares him with Haaland

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has said striker Joao Pedro is stylistically similar to his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema and is at a comparable level to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Alonso made the comments in an interview cited by BBC Sport, highlighting the attributes he sees in Pedro’s game and placing him alongside two of world football’s leading forwards. The manager’s comparison links Pedro’s style with Benzema’s technical and positional qualities and places an expectation on him to perform at a top level comparable with Haaland. The remarks come as Chelsea build around Alonso’s squad ideas and suggest the manager sees Pedro as a central attacking figure for the team. No further details about context, timing or subsequent actions were supplied.