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Pedro set to stay at Chelsea: 'I'm very happy here'

Stefan Wermuth / Reuters

After admittedly struggling to adapt to English football following a £21.4-million move from Barcelona in August 2015, Pedro appeared poised for a La Liga return.

Wantaway no more, with the dynamic attacker poo-pooing last June's desire to return to La Blaugrana by admitting that he is happy at Chelsea.

"This is the best moment for me at this club and also the best moment for the whole team since I've been here," the 60-time capped Spanish international told the Evening Standard's Simon Johnson.

Funny how sitting top of the Premier League table versus languishing midtable a year ago will do that to for a player's confidence.

"I'm very happy here. It's a good situation when you are top of the League and progressing in the FA Cup. We are on the right path.

"Last year was a difficult one for me, for the club, for the team, but this year is different."

Hard to blame Pedro after a maiden voyage in English waters under the embattled Jose Mourinho delivered mixed results for the Tenerife-born player. After winning 20 major trophies at Barcelona, Pedro had an erratic Premier League debut campaign despite scoring a respectable seven goals in 24 starts.

Chelsea finished a shocking tenth in the Premier League, its worst standing since 1995-96, and like teammates Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, Pedro appeared short of his pedigree under the mercurial Portuguese gaffer.

If Mourinho was a capricious presence, current Blues boss Antonio Conte is a consistent one.

"With this coach, all the team is focused on the fight for the title, with more confidence for every game and this is good. It's a completely different season," said Pedro.

"Every day I'm more comfortable with the team, with my teammates, with the club and I have a good relationship with the supporters. All is good for me here and I'm very happy with the situation."

Finally happy at Stamford Bridge ahead of Chelsea's FA Cup date with Wolves on Saturday, Pedro admits that it took some time to adapt to the English game. But now that he has, with more than two years left on his deal, there is no longer an intent to return to Spain.

"Here it's quicker when you attack and everything is different. You have to change mentally and it's difficult to adapt at first, but I have changed, I have done that now.

"It's a good moment for me. I feel really good on the pitch. I'm scoring goals and I'm connecting well with my team-mates."

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