Enzo Maresca is barely putting a foot wrong lately as Chelsea’s head coach, proving to everyone he’s the right man for the job at Stamford Bridge. However, Paul Merson has criticised one small decision he made last week with one Blues player.
After a successful debut season at Chelsea, winning two trophies and securing a top-four finish, Enzo Maresca will now have to deal with increased pressure on his talented young squad.
Matches Wins Draws Losses
66 42 10 14
Enzo Maresca’s record at Chelsea across all competitions
The 45-year-old boss has certainly earned the backing of supporters because he’s gone from strength to strength since arriving from Leicester City.
Maresca, nominated for Coach of the Year, has proven he can win in different ways. It makes it fascinating to see what he can get out of the Chelsea group this season after further investment.
Enzo Maresca smiles after Chelsea vs West Ham
Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images
Paul Merson calls out Enzo Maresca for substituting Liam Delap
Despite all the positivity around Maresca, Paul Merson was left baffled by the decision from the Chelsea manager to take off Liam Delap during the Premier League win away to West Ham a week ago.
The Blues were 5-1 up and cruising at the London Stadium. However, Chelsea striker Delap was substituted off after just an hour, which seemed an odd decision because the new signing is still looking for his first league goal of the season.
Merson wrote in his column for Sportskeeda: “I was very surprised with Enzo Maresca deciding to take Liam Delap off, when they were 5-1 up against West Ham. He should have kept Delap on and given the striker a chance to get his first Premier League goal for the club.
“The sooner you get off the mark in the league, the better for a striker. Delap is not a bad striker, he just needs that first one under his belt and more will follow. It’s a shame he was taken off by Maresca.”
Paul Merson during Tottenham vs Arsenal match
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
MORE CHELSEA STORIES
Even without scoring, Delap impressed against West Ham with his all-round play. We agree that the pressure will slowly build on the 22-year-old striker until he scores his first goal of the season.
Let’s hope the English youngster can end his mini drought this weekend when the Blues host Fulham in the Premier League.
With Cole Palmer unavailable against Fulham, the logical move would be to repeat last week’s trick, which was Delap as the centre-forward and Joao Pedro deeper in the No.10 spot. Delap tormented Fulham last season by scoring two goals in two games against them as an Ipswich Town player, so he must be raring to go.
Liam Delap playing for Chelsea against West Ham in the Premier League.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Liam Delap should be eyeing England call-up
Delap has been an important player for England’s youth teams across various age groups, but he’s still waiting for his maiden senior call-up. Hopefully, it can come in the 2025/26 season, especially because there is the World Cup next year.
He wasn’t picked in the latest England senior squad that was announced on Friday.
Of course, Three Lions captain Harry Kane is still the main striker for the national side. We see no reason why Chelsea’s Delap can’t force his way into the picture as his understudy, though.
If Delap can stay in the Chelsea team and start to score regularly, we’re confident he will come into Thomas Tuchel’s thoughts pretty quickly.