Enzo Maresca has been speaking about Joao Pedro and Liam Delap after their impact in Chelsea’s 4-1 win against AC Milan over the weekend.
Both players managed to get their names on the scoresheet, with Delap bagging a brace at Stamford Bridge.
Pedro was “very happy” for Delap after his two goals, but the 23-year-old can also be delighted with his own contribution.
Since joining Chelsea last month, Pedro has scored five times in as many games if you include the Blues’ two friendlies against Milan and Bayer Leverkusen.
Enzo Maresca at Chelsea Training and Press Conference
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Enzo Maresca expects Chelsea duo Joao Pedro and Liam Delap to score goals but also miss chances
Right now, Pedro looks as though he is going to score with every touch, while Delap’s display over the weekend was very promising.
However, while Maresca does think that the pair will continue to score goals when the new season starts, the Chelsea manager has warned supporters that they are going to miss chances as well.
“They are both our strikers, we need them scoring goals during the season, and we are very happy with both of them,” Maresca was quoted as saying by Chelsea’s official club website after the game.
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“Liam played some games in the USA [at the Club World Cup] and he scored here today. They have to be without pressure or stress, and they will score goals for sure and miss goals for sure. But at the end, they are going to help us.”
Pedro and Delap were not the only two players who were good against Milan. The likes of Cole Palmer and Reece James also impressed.
The quartet and the rest of the Chelsea team have only played two pre-season games following their participation at the Club World Cup. But Maresca’s men look ready for the new campaign.
Joao Pedro celebrates during Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain: Final - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
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Enzo Maresca on AC Milan win
Chelsea were helped in their two friendly wins. Leverkusen did not do much going forward, while Milan went down to 10 men in just the 18th minute after Andrei Coubis picked up a red card and also gave away a penalty.
Still, Maresca would have been pleased with his side’s two performances, especially their latest.
“I think the performance was very, very, very good until the red card,” the Italian said after the Milan game. “We started the way we wanted to start, intense and with a high tempo on and off the ball.
“The red card changed a little bit the game but it’s also normal [that the energy dropped a little] as Milan started pre-season on 4 July, 40 days ago, and this was their sixth friendly game. For us, it’s our second one. But overall, I’m very happy and now we start the Premier League.”
Chelsea begin their Premier League campaign with the visit of Crystal Palace, and Delap has now given Maresca a decision to make after his brace on Sunday.
Liam Delap in action during Chelsea FC v Los Angeles Football Club: Group D - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
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Pedro is a nailed-on starter, but Maresca may be able to get both him and Delap into the same XI by deploying the Brazil international out wide.