Fansided

10 players with the most to prove

By James Dudko

PASADENA, CA - JULY 25: Alexis Sanchez of Manchester United takes a penalty during a penalty shoot-out during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and AC Milan at Rose Bowl on July 25, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JULY 25: Alexis Sanchez of Manchester United takes a penalty during a penalty shoot-out during the pre-season friendly match between Manchester United and AC Milan at Rose Bowl on July 25, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) /
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PERTH, AUSTRALIA – JULY 23: Pedro of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the international friendly between Chelsea FC and Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on July 23, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA – JULY 23: Pedro of Chelsea celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the international friendly between Chelsea FC and Perth Glory at Optus Stadium on July 23, 2018 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) /

5. Pedro, Chelsea

Pedro’s Chelsea career has never quite taken off, despite arriving to a lot of fanfare in 2015. The hype was justified since the Spaniard looked like a bargain at £21 million after his prolific and trophy laden time at Barcelona.

Somehow though, Pedro has often remained in the shadows for the Blues. Eden Hazard and Willian have usually been more involved when the games get more important.

Yet things could be about to change for the attacker who has yet to score double-digit goals in the Premier League. The arrival of Maurizio Sarri as manager could liberate Pedro.

Sarri made goal-hunting wide forwards a feature of his exciting Napoli teams. Lorenzo Insigne, Piotr Zielinski and Jose Callejon all found the net regularly.

His past says Sarri will value Pedro, perhaps more than predecessor Antonio Conte did. It will also help Sarri preaches the same stylish, possession-based game Pep Guardiola used to help make Pedro at star for Barca.

Pedro has already noticed similarities between the two, per the Daily Mail‘s Kieran Gill: “Their intensity, mentality. It is good. It will be an open game for the duration and very good to watch.”

Gill noted Pedro is staying put at Stamford Bridge for the final year of his contract. The onus will be on the 31-year-old to prove he wasn’t merely a beneficiary of the awesome talent around him at Barcelona, but is a true match-winner in his own right.