Rosenior excited by ´magnificent´ Joao Pedro´s potential

Liam Rosenior described Chelsea forward Joao Pedro as “magnificent” ahead of the Blues’ FA Cup fifth-round tie against Wrexham on Saturday.

Joao Pedro has been in brilliant form for Chelsea since Rosenior’s arrival in January, and he netted a hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday.

The Brazilian, who also provided an assist at Villa Park, was the first player to be directly involved in four goals in a single Premier League game this season.

And since Rosenior took charge of Chelsea, no player has directly contributed to more goals in English domestic competitions than Joao Pedro (12 – 10 goals, two assists).

“I’ve had some great conversations with Joao since I came in,” said Rosenior. “It isn’t about what I’ve done, it’s about what he has done.

“He has been magnificent and I don’t just mean with the goals, it’s his intensity and the understanding of the press. Tactically, what he gives us is magnificent.

“If you look at the teams I manage and coach, we try to create as best chances as possible for our nine, which is normally in the middle of the goal and six yards out.

“It was really pleasing to see the goals that we scored against Aston Villa, I know they were tap-ins but he was in the right place at the right time.

“It is really exciting for us to have a player at his level performing the way he is at the moment.”

The four Blues in our squad with Chelsea hat-tricks to their name. pic.twitter.com/0yNKfMNLws

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 6, 2026

Chelsea have faced Wrexham in one previous FA Cup tie, needing two replays in the 1981-82 fourth round to knock them out.

The Blues have won six of their last eight away games in Wales in all competitions (D1 L1), including a 3-1 win at Cardiff City in the EFL Cup this season.

“It is a club that is on the rise,” added Rosenior on Wrexham, who have shot up the leagues since they were taken over by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

“There is a good energy and good vibe around them, and that is hard to play against that.

“For us, it’s an opportunity to win a trophy. It’s what football is about. It’s what the FA Cup is about. We are the favourites but we need to go and play like that.”