PEDRO gave a thumbs up from hospital after a brutal collision with David Ospina left him with suspected concussion.
The Spaniard had blood dripping from his head and to be taken to the ward for precautionary check-ups during Chelsea’s friendly with Arsenal
Vaya susto! Afortunadamente estoy bien. Gracias por vuestros mensajes / What a shock! Fortunately everything is ok. Thnks 4 your messages
pic.twitter.com/8EWFm4YqcJ
— Pedro Rodríguez (@_Pedro17_) July 22, 2017
Ospina clattered into Pedro as he rushed out to punch the ball clear, but the winger looked in agony as he writhed on the turf.
The impact on Pedro, 29, was so severe he was fully airborne and his head thumped against the turf.
Shots showed blood dripping from his ear and his face as he sat up in a daze while being treated by Chelsea medical staff.
Surprisingly, the referee actually gave a free kick to Arsenal, instead of a penalty to the Blues after the collision.
Antonio Conte looked concerned as he mulled over the change, bringing on French youngster Jeremie Boga.
Pedro then walked over to the touchline before slumping on to the side of the pitch, but he declined to use a stretcher that was brought on.
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- The 20-year-old, who played youth football for France, has one international cap for the Ivory Coast.
- He has been at Chelsea since the age of just 12, signing from ASPTT Marseille in 2009 – his father worked in London and his whole family moved to the Capital.
- Boga has yet to play a first-team game for the Blues, but has had loan spells at Rennes in Ligue 1 and Granada in Spain.
- The pacey, unpredictable forward usually plays as a No 10 and has starred in Chelsea youth teams.
Conte confirmed to Chelsea TV after the match that Pedro was taken to hospital for routine checks, but suggested the winger should be OK.
Blues boss Antonio Conte said: “He went to hospital but he will be OK.
“He had concussion so the doctor preferred to take him to hospital to check him and if he’s OK he will travel with us to Singapore.”
Willian gave Chelsea the lead in the friendly game before Michy Batshuayi doubled the tally.
There was also confusion at the start of the second half as match officials originally refused to let Olivier Giroud on to the pitch for Arsenal.
Batshuayi then netted a superb third for Chelsea, only after Blues target Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain slipped on the Bird’s Nest pitch.
The two sides play in the Community Shield on August 6, a week before the Premier League season starts.
Of course Twitter reacted with the usual combination humour and disbelief at the referee’s decision:
*Ospina takes out Pedro*
Conte: "Two foot Ospina or Chelsea are loaning you out" pic.twitter.com/Eu8a1a5frj
— Alex
(@HazardVersion) July 22, 2017
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