Even though Chelsea secured an important win against Benfica in midweek, they collected yet another red card this season when Joao Pedro was sent off. Afterwards, former Blues star Mario Melchiot delivered a stern warning to the attacker and the rest of the squad at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea got their first points of the season in the Champions League by securing a narrow 1-0 victory at home to Benfica on Tuesday night.
Remarkably, Joao Pedro, 24, was dismissed in stoppage time for the hosts. It followed Robert Sanchez’s red card against Manchester United and Trevoh Chalobah’s red card against Brighton, both of which ended in defeats.
Joao Pedro is shown a second yellow card. The Blues are down to ten.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 30, 2025
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Pedro, who didn’t start on Tuesday, picked up his first booking almost immediately after entering the action on the hour mark. He received a yellow card for colliding firmly with Benfica’s Enzo Barrenechea from a throw-in. Afterwards, he was sent off in the closing stages for a high boot, even though he didn’t actually connect with Benfica’s Leandro Barreiro.
It means that Pedro will be unavailable to face Ajax at home in the next Champions League match on 22 October.
With Liam Delap out injured, Pedro has been the first-choice option at striker. Tyrique George led the line unsuccessfully against Benfica, while Marc Guiu hasn’t been picked since returning from his loan at Sunderland.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesMario Melchiot urges Joao Pedro to think smarter
According to Mario Melchiot, Pedro and the rest of the Chelsea team need to be a lot smarter in matches following the worrying pattern of red cards. The fact they have three dismissals on their previous four matches across all competitions must concern head coach Enzo Maresca.
“Sometimes you have to be smart about things,” Melchiot told BBC’s Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
“You had two minutes before the end when Pedro gets the red card. The game before that was [Trevoh] Chalobah, the game before that before that was [Robert] Sanchez. The last two people can say were moments in games where things happen but Joao Pedro yesterday has to be smart.
“It’s your second yellow card with two minutes to go. This is nothing to do with it being necessary. Sometimes it’s necessary and you have to take one for the team and you don’t care.
“This one wasn’t having to take one for the team – it was so far away from his goal. You have to be a little bit smarter. Regardless of you playing in the Champions League, the emotions are going, you have to think.
“Don’t pick up cards like that. The whole team have to be smarter because things like this cannot happen to this team. You miss key players now. You already have one striker injured [Liam Delap] and now you’ll have one striker suspended. What are you going to do next?”
Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for “Phenoms” Joao Pedro has gone goal-shy
After a blistering start to his Chelsea career, Pedro has started to struggle recently, especially because he’s heavily relied upon when Cole Palmer isn’t on the pitch.
As you can see below, Pedro hasn’t been shooting or scoring in his recent club appearances.
FixtureMinutes playedGoalsTotal shotsChelsea 1-0 Benfica2900Chelsea 1-3 Brighton9000Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea9000Bayern Munich 3-1 Chelsea9000Brentford 2-2 Chelsea7901Joao Pedro in his previous five Chelsea appearances across all competitions via FOTMOB
According to a former coach, Pedro can shine as a centre-forward in Chelsea’s system because he’s got the overall game to lead the line. However, we’ve seen that he’s also exquisite when he drops a bit deeper to connect play. If he does play as the striker, he certainly needs to be busier around the penalty box.
If Pedro wants to continue as Brazil’s starting striker going into next year’s World Cup, it is vital he shows his goal threat on a consistent basis this season at club level.