Chelsea
manager Guus Hiddink believes now Alexandre Pato is injury-free, the
Brazilian can begin to show his real quality.
Chelsea beat Aston Villa 4-0 in the lunchtime kick-off, with Pato coming off
the bench in the 23rd minute for the injured Loic Remy.
The striker, who joined Chelsea in January on loan from Brazilian club
Corinthians, marked his first appearance for the Blues with a goal in the
final minute of the first half. After Aly Cissokho had barged into the back
of him, Pato picked himself up to score from the penalty spot.
Less than a minute into the second half, Chelsea had a third. Pato and
fellow substitute Oscar, on at half-time for Kenedy, combined down the left
side of the penalty area and Pedro turned in Oscar's low cross from close
range.
And after his strong performance, Hiddink believes Pato is now fully fit and
ready to have a successful end to the season.
"It was good to see him coming in," he said.
"I could have brought him in earlier but now with his physical condition he
can show his quality and that is why he has come in the team relatively
late.
"It was not the most toughest game, you have to take that into
consideration, so we will see how he copes against more resistance."
Hiddink also says Pato gets on well with his team-mates, and that they have
always felt Pato could score goals.
"He has been suffering, literally, doing extra work with the fitness coach
and other coaches and the other players see that and are happy for him so
they are relieved to see him score his first goal."
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