Joao Pedro registered 26 touches of the ball against Fluminense. Of all Chelsea forwards to have started at the Club World Cup, only Jackson has managed as many touches in a match.
Not all of the Brazilian’s touches took place inside the opposition half, however – far from it.
He was involved all over the pitch in Tuesday’s semi-final, with seven of his touches coming inside his own half.
“The good thing about Joao is that we knew already how good he was,” said Maresca after the game, also revealing he spoke to ex-Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi prior to signing him.
“Today he played deep but we know he is able to drop deep and link up the play. That’s why we decided to bring him in.”
By contrast, Delap only touched the ball twice inside his own half after starting Chelsea’s final group game against Tunis, while only four of Jackson’s touches against Palmeiras took place in the Blues’ half of the pitch.
Joao Pedro also made more of an impact in wide areas, regularly popping up on both flanks in an effort to influence Chelsea’s build-up play.
The majority of Delap and Jackson’s touches, meanwhile, were in central areas in the final third of the pitch.
“Every team has a different style to play: Delap has a style, Jackson another and I have my way,” Joao Pedro said before Tuesday’s game.
“I think whoever brings more good things to the team is going to play.”
On this evidence, Joao Pedro has more than an outside chance of beating both Delap and Jackson to a starting berth in Sunday’s showpiece.
