Enzo Maresca welcomes Liam Delap after rating a first goal goal by Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has a « no doubt » that Liam Delap will score goals for Chelsea after the attacker opened his account against Esperanta last night.

Delap, signing £ 30 million from Ipswich, pulled out the second in a 3-0 victory for the Blue at the Club World Cup while they switched to a meeting of the last 16 with Benfica.

Many changing conditions of composition and suffocation meant that it was a low key meeting, but Delap was the star, with his goal coming shortly after Tosin Adrabioy had taken Chelsea forward. Tirick George added a third late.

They are two! Just so fast for the Blue!@Chelseafc With two goals in two minutes!

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Mareska impressed by the effects of Delap

« He had three clear chances against Flamengo to score goals, » Mareska told Delap. « This is already a good feeling because it means that he is in the right position and is there. We have no doubt that Liam will score goals for us. Undoubtedly in this. »

Delap worked with Mareska before their time in Manchester City and looks comfortable in the Italian system.

« We expected the process to be fast with Liam, » Mareska said. « The reason is because we know him and he knows us with the way we play. For Dario (Sesugo), Andrei (Santos) or Mamadu (sar), it will 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 really good player. »

Heat makes rotation inevitably

Mareska made eight changes to the country, which lost to Flamengo, and attributes changes to the heat with Philadelphia, experiencing her first day for 31 years.

« I’m very happy, » he said. « We wanted the 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 spin the players, because the game every three days in these conditions means that it is not possible for them to play every game.

« Those who played were good and we gave a little break to mine (Kaidodo), Trev (Chalob), Levi (Coluil), Kuku (Mark Kukurella), Cole (Palmer), Pedro – Many players. It is important to restore the energy and try to win the next match. »

✅ The first Liam Delap @Chelseafc purpose
✅ to @Fifacwc Circle of 16
💭 Are you ready to carry the weight of #⃣9⃣?

Catch @Fifacwc | June 14 – July 13 Every game. Free. | https://t.co/i0k4eu4lj | #Fifacwc #The cooktheworld #Sestche pic.twitter.com/tzcisdxvjw

– Dazn Football (@daznfootball) June 25, 2025

Flamengo’s late equalization against LAFC meant that they headed Group D with Chelsea Second.

Mareska’s side trip to Charlotte to play Benfica on Saturday, and Delap is likely to start again after Nikolai Jackson’s suspension has been extended to two games.