Joao Pedro drops early Chelsea team news hint as Enzo Maresca makes Alejandro Garnacho decision

Joao Pedro has dropped a team news hint ahead of Chelsea's clash against Manchester United. The 23-year-old striker will hope to continue his excellent vein of form when the Blues face Ruben Amorim's side at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Pedro has already scored two goals and provided three assists in the Premier League so far this campaign, helping Chelsea climb into the top-five. The Brazil international, who joined from Brighton in the summer, didn't get on the score-sheet when the west London outfit locked horns with Bayern Munich on Wednesday night.

Despite showing real promise, Chelsea lost their Champions League opener. If the Club World Cup champions are to return to winning ways, Enzo Maresca will need Pedro to be at his very best.

On Friday night, the Brazilian posted a pre-match graphic preview before the United fixture to his Instagram story. Historically, this suggests that he'll be involved in some capacity.

Enzo Fernandez, Tosin Adarabioyo and Moises Caicedo have also done the same, hinting that they too will start against the Red Devils. Speaking to reporters ahead of the highly-anticipated clash, Maresca suggested Alejandro Garnacho could make his first start.

"In the last two games, he was inside very good," said the Chelsea boss. "He can be very good in the second half. I explained to him the other day against Bayern Munich. We are adapting our style, what we want from the winger. Now, if he's ready to start tomorrow, I think he's ready to start."

On whether the former United winger will be able to handle a hostile reception, Maresca said: "Yeah, it's always difficult. The other day, against Bayern Munich, Cucurella every time touched the ball [got booed]. The noise was not the best one. But you have to learn also to handle these kind of things."

Maresca decided that he plans to hold talks with Garnacho before deciding whether or not he's ready to play. The Chelsea boss added: "Probably it is something that we have to think about.

"First of all, because he is young, so you don't know how he can react. But also in case we decide to start with him, I will have a chat with him to ask also how he feels about that."

Comparing the Argentina international's situation at United to Jadon Sancho - who impressed on loan at Stamford Bridge last season - Maresca added: "It can be in both ways.

"It can be in both ways, but I think we have also another similar case, like Jadon [Sancho] last year, that for different reasons struggled. Then he joined us for one season, it was good, he helped us to achieve our target.

"Overall, I think Jadon had a good season with us and hopefully Alejandro Garnacho can have the same."

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