Liam Delap has quickly made his presence felt at Chelsea. The 22-year-old striker scored twice in a 4-1 victory over AC Milan at Stamford Bridge during their last pre-season match.
Delap joined from Ipswich Town just before the Club World Cup and immediately impacted by assisting Enzo Fernandez against Los Angeles FC.
Delap’s debut goal came with a calm finish in a 3-0 win over ES Tunis, helping Chelsea secure a spot in the final. By the end of the tournament, he had earned a winner’s medal after Chelsea’s decisive victory against Paris Saint-Germain. Reflecting on his performance, Delap expressed his delight at scoring his first two goals at Stamford Bridge.
“It was really good to score my first two goals at Stamford Bridge. As a striker, when I’m on the pitch, it’s what I’m thinking about,” said Delap. He praised his teammates for helping him settle in quickly, noting that the Club World Cup experience was invaluable for bonding with them.
Last season, Delap was Ipswich Town’s top scorer with 12 goals and two assists, contributing to 38% of their total league goals. His impressive form has continued at Chelsea, where he is eager to make an impact in the Premier League.
Chelsea will kick off their Premier League campaign against Crystal Palace this Sunday. Palace recently won the Community Shield by defeating Liverpool on penalties. According to Opta’s supercomputer, Chelsea has an 8.3% chance of winning the league title this season.
Delap is optimistic about starting strong against Crystal Palace. “We’ve not had long off and had these two games to prepare, but I think we’re all ready,” he stated. The team is focused on getting everyone fresh and prepared for Sunday’s game.
The atmosphere at Stamford Bridge adds to the excitement of hosting their first game there. Delap hopes they can secure three points in front of their home fans.
Internal Competition and Team Goals
Chelsea boasts a wealth of attacking talent, including new arrival Joao Pedro. Delap welcomes this internal competition as it drives everyone to perform better. “Everyone’s aim is to challenge, and the mindset among the boys and staff is to win every trophy we can,” he said.
Delap emphasised his desire to play in big games and compete for major trophies with Chelsea’s talented squad. He is determined to apply what he learned from playing a full season in this league last year.
With high ambitions and a strong squad, Chelsea aims for success this season. Delap is thrilled to be part of it and looks forward to enjoying every moment on the pitch.