From Daily Mirror
World Cup winner who helped Barcelona pile up TWENTY trophies must impress Mourinho quickly or join his list of not-up-to-it discards
He lifted 20 trophies at Barcelona, but his reputation will count for nothing at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro Elezier Rodriguez Ledesma, to use his full name, need only look at Juan Cuadrado, the man on his way out to accommodate him, to know that not everyone can stand the heat at Chelsea under Jose Mourinho.
But Pedro is confident that he can. Particularly having won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 with Spain and the Treble last season with his former club.
Speaking soon after his transfer was confirmed on Thursday by the Premier League champions, the 28-year-old said: “I am very excited to start my adventure at Chelsea. I am here to keep winning titles.”
Of course, the then-much-vaunted Cuadrado was just as excited when he arrived from Italy's Fiorentina for an initial £23.3million at the end of the January.
Eight months and a (short) string of indifferent performances later, he looks to be on his way out, with Serie A champions Juventus leading the chase for him.
Ironically, the Colombian had replaced another player hijacked by Chelsea - just as long-time Manchester United target Pedro was - in Mohamed Salah, signed 12 months previously from under the noses of Liverpool.
The Egyptian had shone for Swiss club Basel and has since done so on loan at Fiorentina, who he joined as part of the Cuadrado deal.
At Chelsea, however, he failed to show enough to force his way into Mourinho’s plans.
Likewise defender Filipe Luis - signed a year ago from Atletico Madrid.
While his former Vicente Calderon team-mates Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois have flourished in London, Brazil international Luis could not cope. He made just nine starts in the Premier League and has already been sold back to Atletico.
Juan and done: Cuadrado looks set to leave Chelsea after a single underwhelming season
Mourinho tends not to do second best too often, in whatever league he is managing.
Players that succeed under him do so because they recognise his demand for total commitment at both ends of the field.
Eden Hazard learned very early on that doing the dirty work under Mourinho is just as necessary as the creativity and cutting edge in front of goal. Which is why the Belgian is now the reigning Player of the Year.
Conversely, his countryman Kevin De Bruyne may be on course for a big-money move to Manchester City from Wolfsburg, but he made just two league starts for Chelsea in two years.
De Bruyne claimed earlier this summer that things didn’t work out for him first time around in England because Mourinho had not given him a fair crack of the whip.
Mourinho responded in typically uncompromising fashion, insisting the 24-year-old lacked the appetite to fight for a first-team place possessed by his other players.
The Portuguese, speaking during Chelsea’s summer tour of North America, claimed he did not want De Bruyne to go and gave him matches in which to prove himself but added: “The player told me it was not in his personality to be competing for a position in the team.
“He needed a team where he knows he can play every game. He was not training very well and I was asking for more and he was saying: ‘I can’t give you more, this is just my way.”
Brussels pout: Mourinho suggested Belgian De Bruyne didn't have the mentality he looks for
A year ago, it was a similar story with another Belgian, Romelu Lukaku.
Bought for £18million in 2011, the striker played in the pre-season of Mourinho's first season back at Stamford Bridge but was then loaned to Everton for a year before the Goodison club signed him permanently.
Explaining the decision, Mourinho said: “The thinking was, first of all, the fact that Romelu was always very clear with us that in his mentality and his approach he was not highly motivated to come to a competitive situation at Chelsea.
“He wanted to play for Chelsea but clearly only as the first choice striker - and at a club of our dimension it’s very difficult to promise a player that status.
“That reduced, immediately, his desire to come to us. After that Everton came with an important offer and because we want to be inside the Financial Fair Play rules, you have to analyse these situations.”
The Mourinho way is to indulge players who show they are hungry for hard work and to discard those who want to rest on their laurels.
Thankfully for Pedro, he has a reputation for industry, humility and a willingness to put his ego second and the team first.
Haul of fame: The UEFA Super Cup was the last of 15 major trophies Pedro won with Barca
His former team are famed for their work without the ball under the likes of Pep Guardiola and, more recently, Luis Enrique.
Pedro had the benefit of playing alongside Lionel Messi, a man who could win a game on his own at Barca. Mourinho wants his Chelsea team to be a Team.
And anyone unable to stay on board will join those whose dream moves turned into a nightmare.
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