The Blues closed the gap to six points behind league leaders Arsenal thanks to goals from Malo Gusto, Joao Pedro, and Pedro Neto. ..Continue Reading
While those three delivered in front of goal, Delap struggled, and his substitute, Estevao, quickly assisted Pedro after coming on.
Delap was aiming to redeem himself after a reckless red card against Wolves in the Carabao Cup late last month. He returned to domestic action following suspension and was given a starting opportunity.
However, the 22-year-old failed to make an impression, registering just two attempts with one on target. Maresca made a change in the 63rd minute, bringing on Estevao, who now looks ready to stake his claim for a starting spot.
Delap impressed during his spell at Ipswich Town last season, scoring 12 goals in 37 appearances, including one goal and one assist against Chelsea.
He was highly sought-after during the summer, with the Blues beating Manchester United and Newcastle United to secure his signature.
His Chelsea career began poorly after sustaining a hamstring injury in a 2-0 win over Fulham in August, sidelining him until late October.
He returned in the Carabao Cup clash against Wolves, but his competitive debut ended prematurely due to two yellow cards.
Maresca didn’t hold back in his criticism of the former Manchester City academy graduate after the dismissal but still gave him another chance in the starting eleven tonight.
Unfortunately, his performance may lead to a spell on the bench, allowing Estevao to step into the starting role.
Chelsea need a reliable goal scorer to mount a serious title challenge, and Delap, who received a 4/10 player rating, hasn’t yet proven he’s up to the task.
His early days at Stamford Bridge have been rocky, and fans are calling for more from their summer acquisition.
Seeing Delap wear the number nine shirt may have unsettled Chelsea supporters, given the history associated with it.
Some of the world’s top strikers have struggled with that number, including Andriy Shevchenko and Fernando Torres.
While it’s premature to write off Delap, he hasn’t made a strong first impression with the fanbase, who chose to overlook his past with Ipswich when he joined.
Still, many are demanding better, including one fan who wrote on X: “Delap…this is absolutely unacceptable btw.”
Another thinks he should be dropped: “Delap out! What is this performance?”
One supporter isn’t impressed: “What do you guys see in Delap genuinely bc this is the most limited striker I’ve seen in a while.”
Another thinks he’s better off competing in a Royal Rumble: “Delap when asked to actually play football is hilarious. Wasted £30m on a WWE superstar. Thanks to these brainless sporting directors again.”
The English striker has the character to bounce back and meet expectations in a young Chelsea squad now sitting second in the Premier League.
Securing Champions League football was his main goal when choosing his next move, and he’ll be eager to lead the attack when the Blues face Barcelona later this month.
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