Pedro produced a goal and an assist on his debut as Chelsea survived the dismissal of captain John Terry to prevail 3-2 at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
A £21.2 million (Dh122.2m) signing from Barcelona earlier this week, reportedly snatched from beneath Manchester United’s noses, Pedro scored and set up Diego Costa as Jose Mourinho’s side went 2-0 up.
Having earlier missed a penalty, James Morrison scored twice in response for West Brom, but despite Terry’s red card for a last-man foul, Cesar Azpilicueta’s first league goal proved enough to give Chelsea a first victory of the Premier League season.
ELSEWHERE
Pedro shows what United are missing
It was Chelsea’s first win at West Brom in five attempts and saw the defending champions belatedly find their gear after a 2-2 draw with Swansea City and last weekend’s chastening 3-0 loss at Manchester City.
Pedro said he wasf “very happy” after making an instant impact on debut.
“I enjoyed my debut a lot with this team. I’m very happy for the victory,” Pedro told Sky Sports.
Asked if it had been important to score, he replied: “It’s important for me, for my integration in the team. I’m very happy.”
Cesc Fabregas, who plays alongside Pedro for Spain and was a former teammate of his at Barcelona, said he was not surprised to seePedro such a speedy impact.
“I knew straight away he would make an impact in this team,” Fabregas said.
“It was something that we basically didn’t have in our team, this pacy player that goes behind defenders, can dribble, goes one against one.
“He goes behind defenders, stretches teams. In the side we have Diego, we have (Loic) Remy that does that, but on the wings, Willian, Eden (Hazard), they like more the ball at their feet.
“So I knew straight away the mentality of this guy is fantastic and I’m very happy for him.”
On a dark, squally afternoon in the West Midlands, Morrison squandered an early chance to put the hosts ahead when his penalty was blocked by Thibaut Courtois – back in the Chelsea goal following suspension – after Nemanja Matic had tripped Callum McManaman.
Fifteen minutes later, Pedro announced his arrival in English football by darting infield from the right, exchanging passes with Eden Hazard and finding the bottom-right corner with the aid of a deflection.
Chelsea’s fans launched into a chorus of “Are you watching Manchester?” and United’s supporters will have found themselves looking away again 10 minutes later when Pedro’s cross-shot was turned in by Costa.
Morrison reduced the arrears by bludgeoning home when Salomon Rondon hooked James McClean’s cross back into the box, only for Azpilicueta to restore the visitors’ two-goal cushion in the 42nd minute by rolling in a shot after Costa had chested down Cesc Fabregas’s pass.
Terry saw red nine minutes into the second half for impeding Rondon as he bore down on goal before Morrison reduced the arrears with a glancing header, but Chelsea held out, Courtois thwarting Rondon in added time.
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