Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho loves Pedro's ambition
Spanish international Pedro`s desire to leave one of the biggest clubs in the world in order to further his career was a key factor in persuading Chelsea to sign him from Barcelona, manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday.
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London: Spanish international Pedro`s desire to leave one of the biggest clubs in the world in order to further his career was a key factor in persuading Chelsea to sign him from Barcelona, manager Jose Mourinho said on Friday.
"I only want to beat Manchester United on the pitch," the Portuguese told a news conference. "I don`t want to say we won, that`s not the point."
He is nevertheless delighted to have given Chelsea an extra attacking option and has already been impressed with Pedro`s attitude.
"He wants something more for his career, that`s an evident sign of ambition.
"He won everything playing with all these stars but he wants more and I`m really happy with that.
"When I`m told a player wants to leave Barcelona or Real Madrid, these giant clubs, I always ask `why?`
"He loves Iniesta, Messi, Neymar and those guys but will leave the comfort zone and come here to a new club, new country, new culture."
Signing Pedro and the Ghana international Baba Rahman, a left-back, from Bundesliga club Augsburg has given Chelsea a boost after a sluggish start in defence of their Premier League title.
They drew 2-2 at home to Swansea after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was sent off, and then lost 3-0 to Manchester City.
"We are not happy (with results) but we are calm," Mourinho said. "This week we got a very good young left-back and we got one of the best attacking players in the world."
On Sunday Chelsea play away to Tony Pulis`s West Bromwich Albion, hoping to avoid another addition to a bizarre run in which their last half dozen league defeats have all come from managers beginning with the letter P - City`s Manuel Pellegrini, Pulis at West Bromwich and Crystal Palace, Tottenham`s Mauricio Pochettino, Newcastle`s Alan Pardew and Sunderland`s Gus Poyet.
Mourinho claimed not to be aware of that run but smilingly added one of his own for those of a superstitious bent: after previously starting the season with a 2-2 draw, at Porto and Inter, he went on to win the treble.