“Not easy” – Enzo Maresca defends returning Chelsea player after 15 touches in 64 minutes | OneFootball

Liam Delap’s arrival at Chelsea in the summer was an exciting moment, especially after he shone at the Club World Cup in his first few appearances.

The fact that he got injured at the start of the Premier League season and that Joao Pedro and the team in general then struggled without him just heaped more and more pressure on his return. Getting two yellow cards in 7 minutes was the worst way to come back.

Delap faces difficult return to Premier League action

Liam Delap battles for the ball up top. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Today was his first start alongside Joao Pedro in the Premier League since the day he picked up the injury, and it wasn’t easy for him. He touches the ball just 3 times in the first half. He finished the game with 15 in 64.

Speaking after the game, his coach Enzo Maresca defended the striker:

“Liam’s performance was not easy for many reasons,” Maresca said.

“First of all because it’s a long time without playing minutes. Second because they had 11 players almost at the edge [of the box] so there is no space for Liam in behind.

“Liam is a No 9 that needs space, he needs to attack in behind, he needs to fight, he needs to do these kinds of things. Against teams that are in a low block, for him it’s a bit more difficult because there is no space that he can attack.

“And then the reason why we put Pedro Neto as a No. 9 is because Joao Pedro was not completely fit to continue to press in the way we were pressing with Liam.”

The good news for Delap was that Marc Guiu, his eventual replacement up top, missed some easy chances and did his own cause no good.

In other news…

Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez has ruled himself out of international duty with a knee injury. It’s great news for Chelsea, who get to see their key man follow up a man of the match performance against Wolves with a two week break.

As well as his presser, Enzo Maresca spoke to the Sky cameras, where he was grinning ear to ear about Malo Gusto “finally” getting his first goal for the club.