Enzo Maresca couldn’t have been happier with how his new striker, Liam Delap, hit the ground running during Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over LAFC in the Club World Cup opener in Atlanta.
Maresca delights in Delap debut as Jackson rivalry begins
With the game balanced as the second half began, Maresca introduced Delap, and within 15 minutes the £30 million signing from Ipswich produced a perfect assist for Enzo Fernández’s goal that sealed the win.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Maresca praised Delap’s understanding of Chelsea’s system:
“Absolutely [happy with his performance]… The good thing about Liam is he knows the way we want to play, so the process is quite quick.”
Maresca also highlighted Delap’s potential on a broader stage, expressing confidence the 22-year-old could one day fill England’s No 9 role:
“I don’t have any doubt that he can be, in the future, the England No9.”
That said, Maresca was equally complimentary of Nicolas Jackson, who played a pivotal role in unlocking LAFC’s defense by setting up Pedro Neto’s opener in the first half.
The striker duel heats up
With Delap now pushing for more minutes, Maresca sees a healthy internal competition emerging:
“I am curious to see how Nico reacts [to Delap]… It is always healthy to have competition.”
Jackson, far from being unsettled, demonstrated his readiness to fight for every chance—laying off the first goal and coming close with a header in the second half.
Beyond tactics and transfers, there’s genuine warmth in Maresca’s reflection. He’s delighted not only by Delap’s fit in the system but also by the broader spirit in the squad.
He gave special mention to Dário Essugo, who made a late cameo alongside Delap, recognizing both newcomers’ eagerness and potential.
He summed it up simply and sincerely:
“Very good result… we have to manage different kinds of things. The performance was good.”
Chelsea now turn their attention to Flamengo in Philadelphia on Friday. Maresca emphasised recovery and sharp preparation ahead of that clash, but with this attacking depth, he appears ready for any challenge.
