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Football Insider

Liam Delap's Struggles at Chelsea: A Tactical Analysis

Former Chelsea star Ruud Gullit expresses concerns over Liam Delap's performance after being deployed as a winger in Chelsea's Carabao Cup loss to Arsenal. Find out how the tactical decisions impacted the game and Delap's overall performance.

Liam Delap's Struggles at Chelsea: A Tactical Analysis

Former Chelsea star Ruud Gullit feels that Liam Delap was not at all happy after starting Chelsea's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal as a winger at the Emirates. Liam Rosenior deployed the striker in an unusual right-wing role but saw his Blues team struggle to trouble the Gunners defensively despite going into the game 3-2 down after the first leg.Chelsea had been aiming to mount a comeback against Arsenal and secure a place at Wembley in the final of the Carabao Cup. However, the Blues found it tough going in a drab game at the Emirates, with Kai Havertz scoring the only goal of the match late on to send Arsenal through 4-2 on aggregate. Chelsea came in for criticism afterwards, with pundit Paul Merson saying the Blues "played like a bottom four team."Rosenior defended his tactics after the game, telling reporters: "You can come away from home, press all over the pitch, mouth the man and you could go 2-0 up or you could go 2-0 down. I felt that the psychological aspect of the tie was very important as well and I felt in the stadium as well. 60 minutes, I bring on Cole [Palmer] and Estevao and the game opens up and we have moments in and around the box. I think there was a feeling in the stadium that this tie could turn. We didn't achieve what we wanted to, but it's not about game plans, it's about results. I have to give our players so much credit for what they put into the game and ultimately their goal comes when we're just throwing the kitchen sink at the game. That's going to happen, but we have to make sure that we take the positives from that, but we're here to get results."Gullit felt that playing Delap out wide was an issue as he looked lost in an unfamiliar position. He told Gambling Insider: "Liam Delap was not happy with starting on the right wing against Arsenal. It’s clear that Liam Rosenior played him there so they could launch long balls to him, but he looked totally out of place. I know it was all tactical, but I don’t think Delap looked happy about it at all. If you get the ball into the box, then Delap will do his best to get on the end of it, but when you’re asking him to drop deeper into midfield or out wide, then it’s a different story. It’s a pity that Delap didn’t play closer to Joao Pedro, because the Brazilian looked all on his own up front. I feel like that would have helped both players if they started in attack together. The Dutchman also felt Chelsea lacked creativity throughout the match, adding: "Chelsea took too long to be brave against Arsenal last night. When Cole Palmer and Estevao came on, it looked a little bit better, but that was also because Arsenal themselves began to withdraw as the game went on. Chelsea didn’t have the firepower to get close to Arsenal – they barely had any shots on goal. I understood Liam Rosenior’s setup to try and not concede for as long as possible away from home, but there was no creativity throughout the match – nothing at all. Arsenal defended well and barely gave them any chances – they were never outplayed in the game.”Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Chelsea splashed out £30 million ($40m) to sign Delap in the summer but he is yet to consistently impress for the Blues. The summer signing has only scored once in the Premier League and pundit Troy Deeney thinks he is not enjoying life at Chelsea.He told Football Xchange podcast: "He looks, he doesn’t look like he’s playing with any fun. It’s like how do I you know hit someone with a big shoulder which gets the fans showing that I care? And you know if he came through at Ipswich I’d go okay fair enough. Like that’s kind of the lower league thing that you have to do. But he’s from City. You know, you’ve been at a massive club. You know how these teams play. You were you were educated in this in this style of play to be running off the shoulders. And I don’t know, maybe it’s the injuries, maybe it’s the transfers, maybe there’s some stuff going on that we don’t know about off pitch, but it just feels to me like he needs a break. He needs like he needs like the summer to come and just like get yourself off to Mykonos for a couple of weeks and just think it just feels heavy."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingChelsea will aim to bounce back from their disappointing cup exit on Saturday when they return to action in the Premier League against Wolves at Molineux.

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Tactical Experiment Gone Wrong

In a surprising move by Chelsea interim manager Liam Rosenior, Liam Delap was shifted from his usual striking role to a right-wing position in the recent Carabao Cup clash against Arsenal. The decision raised eyebrows, with ex-Blues favorite Ruud Gullit noting that Delap appeared uncomfortable and out of place in the unfamiliar role. The strategic intention behind this move seemed to be to utilize Delap's aerial presence with long balls; however, it failed to yield the desired impact on the game.

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Lack of Creativity and Offensive Threat

Gullit's assessment of the match highlighted Chelsea's struggle to create meaningful opportunities throughout the game. The team lacked creativity and failed to pose a significant offensive threat against Arsenal's defense. Delap's isolation on the wing left Brazilian striker Joao Pedro isolated up front, further hindering Chelsea's attacking prowess. The lack of shots on goal and overall offensive impetus underscored the team's inefficiency in breaking down the opposition.

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Player Discontent and Performance Concerns

Pundit Troy Deeney's observations on Delap's demeanor and performance also raise questions about the striker's current state at Chelsea. Despite his high-profile signing in the summer, Delap has struggled to make a consistent impact, with only one Premier League goal to his name so far. Deeney suggested that Delap appears burdened and lacking in enjoyment on the pitch, hinting at underlying issues that may be affecting his form. The pressure and expectations at a top club like Chelsea could be contributing factors to his subdued performances.

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Recovery and Redemption Ahead

With Chelsea set to regroup and refocus for their upcoming Premier League fixture against Wolves, the team will aim to bounce back from their disappointing cup exit. The match presents an opportunity for Delap and his teammates to showcase their resilience and bounce back from recent setbacks. It will be crucial for Chelsea to address tactical shortcomings, boost creativity in the final third, and provide better support to their attacking players to secure a positive result against Wolves.

Published on Feb 4, 2026