Joao Pedro Delivers Perfect Response After Celebrating Against Former Club Brighton

It was a third win in a row in all competitions this season for Chelsea.

Joao Pedro dismissed the claim that he deliberately celebrated in front of the fans of his former club during Chelsea’s win over Brighton on Sunday.

The Blues continued their positive start to the season with a 4-3 win over Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.

It was a surprisingly hard-fought win for the hosts despite being up 3-0 by the 32nd minute at Stamford Bridge. Romeo Lavia scored the opener, followed by Pedro Neto, before Joao Pedro tripled Chelsea’s lead.

Joao Pedro, who joined Chelsea from Brighton last year, drew some controversy for doing his signature celebration in front of the away end.

Former Brighton player Anthony Knockaert even called the Chelsea star “ungrateful” for the celebration.

After the game, Joao Pedro made it clear that it had nothing to do with the Brighton fans, some of whom booed him during the match.

“I just celebrate,” the Brazil international told BBC Sport in a post-match interview when asked about his celebration in front of the Brighton fans.

Despite his dismissal, Joao Pedro might have been annoyed by the jeers from the Brighton supporters during the game.

At 2-0, he was seen making a gesture indicating the scoreline and pointing at the scoreboard. He also pointed at Chelsea’s Club World Cup champions badge during his goal celebration.

That said, Brighton deserve some credit for how they reacted to being 3-0 down.

Chelsea needed a fourth goal, scored by their ace Cole Palmer, to seal the win, as Brighton showed fierce resistance, pulling one back just a couple of minutes after Joao Pedro’s goal.

Chelsea's lead was cut back to one in the 63rd minute after, ironically, a Joao Pedro own goal from a deflected cross. Brighton scored their third in stoppage time, but it was too late.

The striker revealed that he had already apologised to new Chelsea teammate Emiliano Martinez for the unfortunate own goal.

He explained: “Yeah, I spoke with Dibu. I said, ‘Sorry, I just tried to help.’

“But in the end, we got the three points, and that’s the important thing.”

That is indeed what matters. Chelsea are currently one of the only four Premier League clubs to have won their first two games in 2026/27, alongside Manchester City, Arsenal, and Hull City.

The list will definitely shrink very soon as two of these clubs, Chelsea and Arsenal, face each other at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Despite their poor records against Arsenal in recent years, the red-hot performance of their front three should give Chelsea some confidence heading into the derby.

Joao Pedro has already bagged two goals and two assists, Cole Palmer has two goals and an assist, while summer signing Morgan Rogers has a goal and an assist.

Chelsea have not been convincing defensively after conceding five goals in their first two league games, but still, they are offensively capable of outscoring any team in the competition.