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Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso has showered Joao Pedro with praise, comparing him to two of the finest strikers in world football across different eras — saying he belongs in the same bracket as Erling Haaland and adding that the Brazilian brings Karim Benzema to mind.

Joao Pedro has made a brilliant start to the new season for the Blues and on Friday was named the Premier League Player of the Month for August, after registering two goals and two assists in his opening three matches as part of a thrilling front three alongside Cole Palmer and £117m signing Morgan Rogers.

Alonso, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer, has lauded the 24-year-old for the immediate influence he has made and feels he is operating at the same level as Manchester City striker Haaland, who claimed the golden boot last season with 27 goals.

When asked at a press conference whether he believed the Brazilian belonged in the same category as Haaland, Alonso said: “I would say yes.

Joao Pedro was named the Premier League’s player of the month for August.

“If you count how many top strikers we have in the Premier League, I am sure that Joao is there. So I would rate him that way.

“He has been top. Not just football-wise, personality-wise. His maturity, his desire. He has a very strong goal this year: to have a great season, to score many goals, and to be a nominee for not just this month but more months.

“I am not surprised, but really happy with the kind of player that we have here with Joao.”

Alonso then went on to compare him with another elite forward, likening Joao Pedro to his former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema.

Benzema scored 354 goals in 658 appearances during a 14-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he won four La Liga titles and five Champions League trophies, as well as the Ballon d’Or in 2022.

“In many things he reminds me of Benzema,” he added. “Because he is good in the box, he is good out of the box, he is good coming to the left side, he is good with the head.

“He is very complete and he is intelligent.

“He is still young. He still has things to develop. But he has many, many absolutely outstanding qualities.”