Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said that Joao Pedro started the side’s 2-2 draw with Brentford on Saturday, even though the forward suggested that it was better for him to miss the game due to fitness issues.

With Liam Delap sidelined by injury and Nicolas Jackson loaned out to Bayern Munich, Joao Pedro led the line at the Gtech Community Stadium and provided an assist for Cole Palmer’s goal to make it 1-1. He was replaced by summer signing Alejandro Garnacho in the 79th minute.

Joao Pedro featured in both of Brazil’s World cup qualifying games during the international break, starting a 3-0 win over Chile on Saturday and coming off the bench in a 1-0 loss away to Bolivia on Tuesday.

Asked whether he had picked his team against Brentford with one eye on their opening Champions League group game against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, Maresca said he had not and used Joao Pedro as an example.

“Joao Pedro before the game asked me, that he was not fit 100 per cent and that it was better that he doesn’t play,” Maresca said of the 23-year-old in his post-match press conference on Saturday. “So if I was thinking about Bayern Munich, then Joao would be on the bench. Joao played because the focus was on tonight. But for sure when you have so many games you have to plan different options.”

Joao Pedro joined Chelsea in July from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth in excess of £50million ($68.5m). He joined up with squad for the knockout stages of the Club World Cup, scoring twice in the semi-finals against Fluminense and in the final against Paris Saint-Germain.

He has started all four of Chelsea’s Premier League games this season, recording two goals and three assists.

Maresca was asked about his team selection after the game and explained that he managed certain players’ minutes, including centre-back Wesley Fofana, who underwent hamstring surgery in April, and summer arrivals Jorrel Hato, Facundo Buonanotte and Estevao.

“No, we planned 45 minutes for Wesley Fofana because he was a long time out, and we planned not all the game for Jorrel Hato because we said already many times, when you arrive from another country you need time to adapt,” said Maresca. “Facundo joined us two weeks ago, and his physicality was maybe not 100 per cent. But we needed to manage different situations like Estevao, Joao Pedro was also not 100%, but he made an effort to play for part of the game. And as I said, second half we were much better.”

After Wednesday’s game against Bayern, Chelsea return to league action on Saturday when they visit Manchester United.

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