Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that striker Liam Delap will be facing a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a shoulder injury during their recent match against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. This setback comes after Delap had already spent two months out with a hamstring injury earlier in the season.
In a post-match press conference, Maresca expressed his concern over Delap’s injury, describing it as quite severe. He stated, “Yeah, unfortunately he was already out two months and he has to be out again. We don’t know for how long, but it looks quite bad, his shoulder.”
The manager also addressed the team’s struggles with striker injuries this season, emphasizing the importance of having a strong No.9 leading the attack. Maresca mentioned that they have been trying to fill Delap’s role with Marc Guiu in his absence, but the situation has been frustrating for the team.
Following their draw against Bournemouth, Chelsea have dropped seven points in their last three matches, missing an opportunity to capitalize on Arsenal’s loss at Aston Villa. They currently sit in fourth place in the Premier League standings, trailing the leaders by eight points.
Maresca, however, remains focused on the task at hand and stressed that the team cannot afford to think about the Premier League title race until March. He stated, “My message after Arsenal was that if in February, March we are where we were, we are in a title race.”
Looking ahead, Chelsea will face Everton in their next league fixture, followed by matches against Newcastle United and Aston Villa. They will also need to shift their attention to the UEFA Champions League as they prepare for a crucial clash against Atalanta on Tuesday.
As the season progresses, Maresca believes that the top teams in the league will remain closely matched, with the title race likely to be decided by consistency in results. He emphasized the importance of winning consecutive games to stay in contention for the title.
In conclusion, Chelsea will need to overcome their injury setbacks and maintain a strong performance in both domestic and European competitions to keep their title aspirations alive. The team’s ability to stay focused and deliver results will be key in the coming weeks as they look to challenge for the top spot in the Premier League.
