Former England striker Michael Owen called Chelsea forward Liam Delap “selfish” during his analysis of the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Burnley on Saturday.
Michael Owen Tells Chelsea’s Delap to Improve Decision-Making
While Chelsea secured the three goals with strikes from Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez, the performance of their starting centre-forward came under scrutiny.
Owen, providing commentary for Premier League Productions, gave a mixed review of the 22-year-old, who is still searching for his first Chelsea goal since a £30 million summer move.
“I quite like this lad,” Owen stated as reported by Metro.co.uk
“I do think he’s got quite a lot to offer.”
However, Owen was critical of the striker’s decision-making in the final third, pinpointing a first-half moment where Delap opted to shoot from distance instead of passing to a well-positioned Neto.
“In this situation he needs to be a little bit more unselfish,” Owen said.
“If he plays this ball in and makes a run to take the defender away, he will leave Neto with a one-on-one…
He’s got to do that instead of being a bit selfish and thinking he’s going to score a goal on his own.”
Despite this criticism, Owen also highlighted Delap’s strengths, particularly his movement to run in behind Burnley’s defence.
He praised the striker’s ability to create space for himself, suggesting that with better service and awareness from his teammates, those runs could be more effective.
Owen concluded that Delap remains a “raw” talent but believes he can develop into a valuable asset.
“I think with a little bit of coaching, this fella could be a very good player,” he said.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca offered a more supportive view after the match, urging patience with his new signing.
He praised Delap’s work rate against Burnley and expressed confidence that the goals will soon come, emphasizing that the striker’s relentless presence worries opposing defenders.
