If you listen to the noises coming from Manchester United's hierarchy, they never really wanted to sign Pedro from Barcelona this summer.
Believe that if you will, but the Spaniard's debut performance for title rivals Chelsea on Sunday gave an instant view of what United have missed out on and what Chelsea have gained.
Following on United’s 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle, Chelsea looked like a team transformed – at least in attack – as they survived a John Terry red card to defeat West Bromwich Albion 3-2.
They did their best work in the first half, attacking with incision and pace with Pedro at the heart of their best moves.
The purchase of the World Cup winner could well have been influenced by Chelsea’s poor start to the season rather than long-term planning, but he is already giving Jose Mourinho an option that none of his other players do.
The three forward midfielders in Mourinho’s 4-5-1 formation are required to do a lot of hard work; their manager wants players who are adept defensively, which is the reason he says he sold Juan Mata.
Read more: Chelsea prevail over West Brom
No Pedro, no Neymar, no Ramos – Richard Jolly on a Manchester United lacking stardust
Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar and Cesc Fabregas are all really central midfielders who can play wide. But look at Willian, for example. His instinct when playing wide is to cut back inside.
Pedro, on the other hand, is a winger by trade and you could easily see him flying up and down the touchline in a classic 4-4-2.
In this Chelsea side, he offers pace and a more direct route to goal than Mourinho’s other midfielders, exactly what United were missing on their right wing on Saturday.
Pedro scored one and set up Diego Costa’s second soon after, with each strike showing an interesting facet to his game.
For his goal, having spent the opening minutes lurking with intent wide right, he picked up the ball and ran at the West Brom defence down the centre of the pitch, exchanged a one-two with Hazard and netted via a deflection.
For Costa’s strike, he was played in wide right behind the left-back, and his cross shot was slotted home by the Brazilian.
The opposition left-back has to play under the constant threat of Pedro being played in behind him and that, in turn, creates that extra bit of space for the Spaniard to exploit centrally.
You can see Pedro easily getting into double figures in goals this season and, while it is hard to talk about him being a title-winning signing, the way Chelsea are playing defensively, he is the extra dimension Chelsea needed as they attempt to keep their hands on the Premier League trophy.
Just the signing Manchester United needed, too.
twoods@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
