Jose Mourinho admits he was shocked Chelsea could land top Man United target Pedro

The Chelsea boss said he never thought the 28-year-old would leave the Nou Camp, but when he found out he was willing to go, he pounced, beating Manchester United to his signature.

“When I see Pedro playing in the European Super Cup or in the Spanish Super Cup like it's the last game of his career, I always thought with that commitment and attitude he would stay in Barcelona for sure,” said the Blues boss.

“So when we knew he was that kind of professional, who gives everything but in his mind he clearly wants to leave, then it's an opportunity that the window creates for you.

“And we, as a club, decided not to lose out. We tried to get him. And then, obviously, we are happy that the player chose us.

“For me, everything started with the fact that, finally, we understood that the player was ready to leave the club of his dreams, the club of his heart, the club where he had played since he was a kid and where he'd won absolutely everything.” 

“When I'm told a player wants to leave Barcelona, Real Madrid, these giant clubs, I always put a question mark: I ask myself why he wants to leave.

“Normally there are lots of rumours and it's never true, but it was true here. He has a lot of respect and he loves Iniesta, Messi, Neymar, all these guys who played with him all these years.

GETTY
GAFFER: Jose Mourinho was happy to sign Pedro

“And we, as a club, decided not to lose out. We tried to get him. And then, obviously, we are happy that the player chose us”

Jose Mourinho

“But this is a moment to leave his comfort zone for a new challenge, a new club in a new country, a new culture. I'm really happy with this approach.”

Mourinho, who hauled off skipper John Terry at half-time in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday, did not confirmed the centreback would return at West Brom on Sunday.

“Maybe. Maybe. Why not?” he said.

“Normally he's in the team. Normally he plays. So why not?”

He also revealed he had not spoken to Terry about the shock substitution, the first time he has taken him off in 177 games.

“No, I didn't have a single word about it,”he said.

“In the next day in training, he was doing what he's done with me since 2004, training always top.”

But Mourinho did confirm keeper Thibaut Courtois, who was suspended for the City game, will replace Asmir Begovic, who was excellent at the Etihad.