In a closely watched friendly against Bayer Leverkusen, Chelsea’s Liam Delap and Joao Pedro showcased their talents, generating excitement among fans and analysts alike. The match, held at Stamford Bridge, provided a platform for both players to vie for a starting position, particularly as Chelsea prepares for the upcoming season. Delap’s campaign to become the club’s first-choice striker is gathering momentum. Yet, as his performance against Leverkusen did, concerns should arise over whether he’s ready to lead the team just yet.
When Delap faced stiff competition right from the start of the match as he only managed one touch in the first 15 minutes. He showed some hopeful movement, as he flashed an impressive skill to get in behind the back line. That competitive instinct was shown on his first touch to open the scoring when he latched onto Tyrique George’s curling cross. With all of his positioning, Delap couldn’t find the back of the net, as his poked shot was saved by Leverkusen’s goalie Mark Flekken.
Impressive Debuts and Solid Performances
Joao Pedro stole headlines with his big debut, scoring a goal in the opening act of the contest. The Brazilian’s presence added a spark to Chelsea’s attack and could’ve set the tone for his future contributions. Fans greeted the musician’s first appearance at Stamford Bridge with anticipation and excitement. They can’t wait to see how he’ll fit into the team’s on-ice dynamics.
Estevao Willian made a fine debut too, as the Brazilian regularly combined well with Cole Palmer before replacing him in the second half. Given performances like this, he should be a huge asset moving forward, as Chelsea looks to bolster its attack after struggling to create chances last season.
“Everyone is so competitive, and I need that to push myself to the max.” – Liam Delap
Though Delap’s challenges were well documented, it was obvious he had the drive and tenacity to go in search of a starting role. His movement off the ball shows he is trying and learning to become adaptable. He will need to start converting that action into more on target if he wants to secure additional minutes on the pitch.
Tactical Changes and Team Dynamics
Chelsea switched tactically multiple times throughout the match—with the most noticeable change coming at halftime as Tosin came on for Trevoh Chalobah. Tosin’s performance was remarkable. He didn’t misplace a pass and completed all four long balls he attempted. This degree of efficiency is almost certainly going to put him in the running for a starting place next to Chalobah for the two fixtures this break.
Levi Colwill was big in defense as well in 2022, contributing as an impact left centre-back. His consistency shot-stopping abilities will be key as Chelsea seek to tighten what has been a leaky backline. The team isn’t so sure yet about who will partner Chalobah. That murky third aspect is the thrilling wild card as they complete their shape.
Jamie Gittens made a big impression after replacing George in the 64th minute. In fact, his performance highlighted Chelsea’s insane depth of attacking talent. His addition was a real boon to the left wing, sparking some serious firepower that was a treat to watch go to work.
Looking Ahead
With Chelsea now returning for pre season working towards the new campaign, the battle between our strikers will surely be affected even further. Liam Delap’s display against Bayer Leverkusen should worry you, but not as much as it teaches you to start looking for positives in a different way.
With Joao Pedro’s goal and Estevao Willian’s noteworthy debut, Chelsea already looks like it’s forming a very talented team. Swans fans will be closely monitoring the progress of these players as they look to make the grade and help fire Swansea up the Premier League.
Last week, Sky Sports announced a pretty huge deal. They’ll be showing 215 live Premier League games next season, so fans will have front-row seat as Chelsea go one way and we’ll hopefully get to see how these emerging talents shine in competitive matches.
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