Maresca admits Chelsea 'have a major problem' after a disappointing draw

Coach Enzo Maresca acknowledged that Liam Delap might have to remain sidelined after the Chelsea striker left the pitch in the 32nd minute of the 0-0 draw against Bournemouth due to a shoulder injury.

After the match, Maresca told the press he is genuinely concerned for Delap, who has missed 11 games this season and was forced off midway through the first half following a heavy fall caused by Marcos Senesi. Chelsea will assess the injury over the next 48 hours to determine the recovery time.

Although João Pedro and Marc Guiu remain on the bench, Maresca had previously questioned the squad’s depth after the defeat to Leeds. Nonetheless, there is no denying that injuries have significantly hindered Delap’s progress in West London since his arrival amid high expectations, especially after scoring 12 goals in his debut season. Premier League.

Delap appeared to be in severe pain after the collision and had to leave the field in a match where Chelsea again failed to score. In the press conference, Maresca said: “Unfortunately, he had to sit out for two months and now he faces more time off. We don’t yet know how long he will be sidelined, but the situation looks quite serious, especially with his shoulder. He’s really unlucky. We are also unfortunate because the team really needs a striker like him.”

Regarding the match, Maresca mentioned Chelsea lacked sharpness in the opponent’s half: “It was a game where we lacked a bit of quality in the final third. There were many misplaced passes and chances to finish that we failed to convert.”

He emphasized that if winning isn’t possible, the most important thing is not to lose: “We can’t expect to score in every game. At least keeping a clean sheet today helped the team earn a point.”

On Cole Palmer’s return, who started for the first time since September, Maresca gave a positive assessment and stated Chelsea’s issues are not about individual confidence but rather routine technical mistakes.

Chelsea is currently struggling with fitness problems this season, partly due to a congested schedule and insufficient preseason preparation. While Palmer’s comeback is a positive sign, Delap’s injury is worrying, especially as the 22-year-old still hasn’t fully integrated.

Maresca’s squad currently sits 5th and is about to enter a challenging end-of-year period, including a match against Atalanta in the Champions League, followed by fixtures against Everton, Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Bournemouth in the Premier League.

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