Enzo Maresca “undoubtedly” that Liam Delap will score goals for Chelsea after the striker opened his account against Esperance last night.
Delap, a signing of 30 million pounds sterling from Ipswich, scored the second in a 3-0 victory for the Blues at the Club World Cup while they were going to a meeting of last 16 people with Benfica.
A very modified range and suffocation composition meant that it was a discreet encounter, but Delap was the star with his goal to come shortly after Tosin Adarabioyo had put Chelsea forward. Tyrique George added a third late.
It’s two! Just as fast for blues!@ChelseaFc With two goals in two minutes!
Catch it @Fifacwc | June 14 – July 13 | Each game. Free. | https://t.co/i0k4eutwwb | #Fifacwc #TO COOKTHEWORLD #Sestche pic.twitter.com/fbvpwuigenen
– Dazn Football (@Daznfootball) June 25, 2025
MARESCA impressed by Delap Impact
“Against Flamengo, he had three clear chances to score goals,” said Maresca about Delap. “This is already a good feeling because it means that it is in the right position and is there. We have no doubt that Liam will score goals for us. Without any doubt.”
Delap has already worked with Maresca during their stay in Manchester City and looks comfortable in the Italian system.
“We expected the process to be fast with Liam,” said Maresca. “Reason is because we know him and he knows us with the way we play. For Dario [Essugo]Andrey [Santos] or Mamadou [Sarr] It’s going to be a little more complicated and they need time because they don’t know exactly how we play.
“For Liam, the process can be quite fast, and he is a very good player.”
The heat makes rotation inevitable
MARESCA made eight modifications to the team that lost against Flamengo and attributed the changes to heat with Philadelphia in known his hottest day in 31 years.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “We wanted victory to continue to build a winning mentality. And I think the players, they were good, and now we can think about the next one.
“It is impossible not to run players because playing every three days in these conditions means that it is not possible for them to play each game.
“Those who played were good and we gave a little rest to me [Caicedo]Trev [Chalobah]Levi [Colwill]Grandchildren [Marc Cucurella]Cole [Palmer]Pedro [Neto] – Many players. It is important to recover the energy and try to win the next match. »»
✅ The first of Liam Delap @ChelseaFc aim
✅ Until the @Fifacwc Round of 16
💭 Ready to carry the weight of # ️⃣9️⃣?Catch it @Fifacwc | June 14 – July 13 | Each game. Free. | https://t.co/i0k4euu4lj | #Fifacwc #TO COOKTHEWORLD #Sestche pic.twitter.com/tzcisdxvjw
– Dazn Football (@Daznfootball) June 25, 2025
Flamengo’s late equalizer against Lafc meant that they exceeded group D with Chelsea second.
The trip of the Maresca team to Charlotte to play Benfica on Saturday with Delap likely to start again after the suspension of Nicolas Jackson was extended to two games.
