Chelsea's Decision For Striker To Train Away From Xabi Alonso's Group 'A Bit Rubbish'
Liam Delap breaks his silence on separation from the first team at Stamford Bridge following £50 million move to Nottingham Forest.
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Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso was at the centre of a major summer rebuild as the club looked to put a disappointing campaign behind them ahead of the 2026/27 season.
After finishing 10th in the Premier League last time out, the Blues were in need of a cultural reset, with another season outside the Champions League raising further questions about the club's direction.
Alonso's arrival marked another change in the dugout following the departures of Liam Rosenior and Enzo Maresca. However, the changes at Stamford Bridge extended beyond the touchline, with several players facing uncertain futures. One of them was Liam Delap.
Signed under Maresca, Delap had previously graduated from Manchester City's academy, where he was coached by the Italian at youth level. During the 2020/21 season, the pair won the Premier League 2 title alongside Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia.
After a difficult first season under Maresca and Rosenior, the striker travelled to Australia and Asia for pre-season with Alonso ahead of the new campaign.
Upon returning to the UK, Chelsea created a separate training group for players deemed surplus to requirements or expected to leave the club. Delap was among those kept away from the main first-team group.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, the striker opened up about training away from the first team.
He said: “Obviously it’s a bit rubbish going to train away from the group, but I think I’ve got really good people around me.”
Delap joined Nottingham Forest in the final days of the summer transfer window in a deal worth up to £50 million.
Why did it go wrong at Chelsea for Delap?
Prior to joining Chelsea, the 23-year-old joined newly promoted Ipswich Town for an initial £15 million in 2024.
The Englishman scored 12 goals, and with Ipswich suffering immediate relegation, a release clause in the region of £30 million became active — a clause the Blues subsequently activated.
The forward was signed in time for Chelsea's triumph at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where the Blues beat PSG 3-0 in New Jersey.
Brazilian forward Joao Pedro also joined the club midway through the competition, and the Englishman immediately had increased competition.
Delap's progress was further disrupted during Chelsea's 2-0 victory over neighbours Fulham at the start of the 2025/26 season. He pulled up with a hamstring injury inside the opening 15 minutes, keeping him out for at least two months.
Upon his return, the number nine saw red after receiving two quick yellow cards as a second-half substitute in the League Cup victory over Wolves.
Despite his continued struggles, the English forward scored in the Blues' 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Champions League. His first and only league goal came in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham in January.
A lack of confidence appeared to affect Delap alongside his struggles on the pitch. With João Pedro scoring 15 league goals last season, the competition for attacking places made it increasingly difficult to establish himself.
The recent pre-season tour was seen as an opportunity to reset after a forgettable campaign, but it only pushed Delap closer to the exit door. His final appearance for Chelsea came in the 3-3 draw against Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim at the beginning of August.
Since joining Nottingham Forest, Delap has scored once in seven appearances under Oliver Glasner.