Pedro and Rahman will help Chelsea banish the blues, says Azpilicueta

Fired up: Azpilicueta celebrates scoring his first goal for Chelsea
Simon Johnson24 August 2015

Cesar Azpilicueta says new signings Pedro and Abdul Baba Rahman have given Chelsea a much-needed lift, writes Simon Johnson.

Chelsea signed the pair for an initial £37.3m from Barcelona and Augsburg respectively over the past week after failing to win either of their opening two League games for the first time in 17 years.

While Baba Rahman is still waiting to make his debut, Pedro made an instant as he inspired Chelsea to their League victory of the campaign with a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win at West Brom yesterday.

Confidence was at an all-time low after a 3-0 defeat at Manchester City last week, but Azpilicueta said: "Both players are really good additions to the squad. They will help us to be a better team.

"Their arrival will help everybody. We will have more competition and that can only benefit the club.

"I know Pedro very well and knew he would fit very well in the team. I know his ambition, he is hungry to help the team and to get trophies. But to start like that in his first game is amazing.

"Pedro is a top player. He played for Barcelona for many years and will fit into the Premier League and our team. He knows a few of the players already and I think he is going to do a really good job.

"He has trained with us for only one week. He has just played his first Premier League game and has already scored. So I'm sure he will get better."

The left back continued: "He doesn't need any advice from me. He has won the World Cup, the European Championships and three Champions Leagues. He has all the experience.

"Of course there are a few details about playing in England, there are a few differences like the pace and how the opposition always push until the end, especially when they are losing. There is not much to say to him, honestly. He scores goals, he does everything!"

But by making these signings, as well as pursuing a £70m deal for Juventus star Paul Pogba, Azpilicueta says it means all the players who were part of the title-winning side last term know they must raise their game.

When asked if the new arrivals felt like a warning to the squad, he added: "We know in football you can't rely on what you did in the past, you have to prove yourself every day.

"We won the League last season, but we have to show in every game and every day in training that we are ready to perform in every game."

West Brom vs Chelsea - player ratings

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Azpilicueta, who scored his first League goal for the club, is aware he is now under threat from Baba Rahman.

"I'm confident that I will keep working and doing my job," he said. "I know that the competition is good for the team. There are a lot of great players around me and young players too. They're all going to compete for a place. At the end, hopefully the whole team will be better and I hope to improve.

"But this was a big win because we didn't start the season well, we were not happy. We wanted to change the dynamic of the team and we have been training really well."

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