Joao Pedro praises 'electric' Rosenior over Maresca's style

Chelsea striker says new manager's intense approach suits him better than predecessor's more passive tactics

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:07am

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Joao Pedro, the star player for Chelsea, has praised the 'electric' style of new manager Liam Rosenior, saying it suits him better than the more considered approach of former boss Enzo Maresca. Pedro highlighted Rosenior's desire for the team to play with more intensity and be more connected, in contrast to Maresca's focus on possession and ball control.

Why it matters

Pedro's comments provide insight into the differing coaching philosophies of Rosenior and Maresca, and suggest that the striker is thriving under the new manager's more aggressive tactical approach. This could have significant implications for Chelsea's performance and results going forward.

The details

In a post-game interview with CBS Sports, Pedro said: "Liam [Rosenior] is more electric. He wants us to play with more intensity and be more compact. He wants us to come low to be connected to create the space to run behind. Enzo [Maresca] is more with the ball, he's very good as well." The Brazilian striker's match-winning contributions in Chelsea's last two games against Crystal Palace and Napoli have been praised, after some earlier criticism of his form under Maresca.

  • Joao Pedro spoke to CBS Sports after Chelsea's most recent match.

The players

Joao Pedro

The star striker for Chelsea who has praised the coaching style of new manager Liam Rosenior.

Liam Rosenior

The new manager of Chelsea who has implemented a more intense and aggressive tactical approach, which Joao Pedro says suits him better than the previous manager's style.

Enzo Maresca

The former Chelsea manager whose more considered, possession-focused approach was less favored by striker Joao Pedro according to the player's comments.

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What they’re saying

“Liam [Rosenior] is more electric. He wants us to play with more intensity and be more compact. He wants us to come low to be connected to create the space to run behind. Enzo [Maresca] is more with the ball, he's very good as well.”

— Joao Pedro, Chelsea striker

The takeaway

Joao Pedro's praise for Liam Rosenior's more intense and aggressive coaching style suggests the striker is thriving under the new manager, in contrast to the more passive approach of former boss Enzo Maresca. This could signal a shift in Chelsea's on-field performance and results as they adapt to Rosenior's tactical vision.