Enzo Maresca has provided a promising replace on Chelsea striker Liam Delap’s restoration forward of their Champions League conflict in opposition to 36-time Eredivisie champions Ajax on Wednesday evening.
The Blues have responded impressively since their 3-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion in late September, recording three straight wins throughout all competitions.
Following successive victories over Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, the London aspect will look to safe their second Champions League triumph after edging Benfica 1-0 of their final European outing.
Though Delap gained’t function in Wednesday’s conflict at Stamford Bridge, Maresca revealed the 22-year-old is nearing a return to first-team coaching.
The ahead, who joined from Ipswich City through the summer time, sustained a extreme hamstring damage in Chelsea’s third sport of the marketing campaign.
Initially dominated out for 12 weeks till December, there’s now optimism that Delap might rejoin coaching later this month.
Talking in his pre-match press convention, Maresca mentioned, ‘Liam could be very shut. He’s not working with us but—nonetheless out—however hopefully he can begin within the subsequent few days and participate within the classes.’
Delap’s damage prompted late-window panic throughout the Chelsea camp, because the membership have been unable to halt Nicolas Jackson’s mortgage change to Bayern Munich on deadline day.
In response, Chelsea recalled Marc Guiu from his mortgage at Sunderland and opted to retain Tyrique George, cancelling his proposed everlasting transfer to Fulham.
Chelsea eye second group stage win
Chelsea started their UEFA Champions League part marketing campaign with a 3-1 defeat in opposition to Bayern Munich, however their hard-fought 1-0 win over Benfica ensured their robust European residence document remained intact.
Regardless of sitting 18th within the 36-team desk, their upcoming opponents Ajax are faring even worse — positioned second from backside, forward of solely Kazakh champions Kairat, after struggling back-to-back losses to Inter (0-2) and Marseille (0-4). Domestically, Ajax’s struggles continued with a 2-0 defeat to AZ Alkmaar, leaving them fourth within the Eredivisie.
This match marks the third European conflict between Chelsea and Ajax, following their two group-stage conferences through the 2019–20 Champions League season.
The Blues are unbeaten of their final 12 group – or league-stage residence fixtures – successful eight and drawing 4 – since their 2019 loss to Valencia underneath Frank Lampard.
They’ll be keen to increase that spectacular streak and declare victory of their third-ever aggressive assembly with Ajax, which additionally occurs to be their third match of the present group stage.
