25 August,2015 08:29 AM IST | | IANS
English champions Chelsea's manager has compared new signing to Argentine legend after the Spaniard played a key role in the team's first English Premier League win of the season
London: English champions Chelsea's manager Jose Mourinho has compared new signing Pedro Rodriguez to Argentine legend Diego Maradona after the Spaniard played a key role in the team's first English Premier League win of the season.
Jose Mourinho
Pedro scored a goal and set up another as Chelsea beat West Brom 3-2 on Sunday. He was put straight into Mourinho's starting XI following his 21 million euros move from FC Barcelona.
"He (Pedro) wasn't quite Maradona but he was close. He's a very good player," Mourinho was quoted as saying by Chelsea TV on Sunday.
While Mourinho admitted to having concerns over how quickly Pedro would adapt to English football, having spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, he added that he had never doubted the 28-year-old's ability.
Chelsea's new signing Pedro runs with the ball during their English Premier League clash against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Sunday. Pic/AFP
"There is always a question mark because of how many top players come to England and don't perform immediately. We have examples in our club and there are lots of examples at other clubs, so it's very nice for him to come and straight away perform the way he did," the manager said.
"I expected him to perform like that because he had a good pre-season, and he played three competitive matches. He came with minutes, with intensity, so it was not a question of intensity and condition, it was a question of understanding," Mourinho added.
