The Brazilian has made an explosive start to the season. Impressing with each game, and scoring goals along the way.

It was the same on Saturday, as he was the one to breach a stubborn Fulham rearguard with a fine header from a corner before Enzo Fernandez’s second-half penalty secured the three points and ensured west London remained, very much, blue.

When Joao came off the pitch to speak to us in the tunnel at Stamford Bridge for his obligatory media duties, we were greeted by a wide smile and a big handshake. The sign of a man that is settled and happy with life at Chelsea.

We got into a number of topics with the Brazilian, but the starting point was obvious. His incredible start to life in Chelsea blue.

‘I’m very happy to help the team and I’m really pleased to start [the season] in this way,’ the striker said shortly after full-time.

‘There is a lot of work to do though, it’s very early in the season, and I know I need to keep working hard to keep helping the team.

‘We’re really happy with the start to the season we’ve made and it gives us something to build on. We came into this game with a lot of confidence after a good win [at West Ham] but credit to Fulham, they made it difficult for us.

‘It was very difficult for us in the beginning, especially in the first half, but we kept fighting, worked hard and got the rewards in the end. In the second half, I thought we played very well as a team and deserved the victory.’

It wasn’t until the ninth minute of first-time stoppage time before Bernd Leno was beaten in the Fulham goal. A corner was floated in, Joao peeled off his man before nodding home. One of many we can expect to see from him this term, one would imagine.

It was a well-worked corner routine that got the rewards it deserved. Mainly, as the striker alluded to, because it was planned out during the week at Cobham.

‘Yes, it was really pleasing to score!’ Our No.20 stated.

‘We worked on it [corner routines] in the week. I knew that if the ball went behind or over the defender, then I needed to be in the right position and to be ready. Thankfully it worked out that way and I was very happy to score.’

Before ending our interview, the Brazilian took a moment to welcome the latest addition to the Chelsea family in Alejandro Garnacho, who watched the victory from the Stamford Bridge stands.

The Argentina international completed his move from Manchester United after the full-time whistle and Joao Pedro is delighted to see more talent join the Chelsea ranks.

‘Garnacho is a brilliant player,’ Joao Pedro stated, with a wide smile.

‘We are very happy he is with us, we welcome him into the group and we hope he can help us in the next few weeks after the international break.’