Liam Delap ready to bring even MORE aggression to Chelsea frontline after wild Nicolas Jackson red card
LIAM DELAP chose Rocky's hometown as the place to declare himself ready to rumble at Chelsea.
Their new £30million striker is a world away from the famous 'Italian Stallion' given he was born in Winchester.
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And he's sitting down on a comfy chair in the luxurious Jean-Groges restaurant on the 60th floor of downtown Philly's sumptuous Four Seasons hotel, looking immaculate in a box-fresh club tracksuit.
But Delap is proud of the fact he loves a scrap on the pitch, within reason of course.
No player was booked more times than him last season with Ipswich Town.
A dozen yellow cards as he walked the line for a team fighting for survival in the Premier League relegation zone. As many cautions as goals.
He is bringing that to his new club and has already shown glimpses of the aggression which is in his DNA.
Refusing to cower to defenders, claiming a classy assist on his debut, throwing a football at the bowed head of Flamengo midfielder Jorginho, formerly of Chelsea, then apologising seconds later.
It's not boxing. It's not beanie-hatted Sly Stallone throwing right hooks into hanging slabs of cow in the meatpacking district, but it is the kind of centre forward fans love. And Delap is ready to deliver.
He said: 'Yeah, I love those battles. I always have since I was a kid. I really love the aggressive side of it and the competitive nature of the squad. It's got to be controlled at times but it's my game ultimately and I enjoy it.
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'I've always had that same edge as a kid and I'm not going to change the way my mindset is. You've just got to make sure you're on the right side of the edge.
'I played every sport in school. Anything that could get me out of a lesson. I just enjoyed the competitive nature of it, whether it was rugby or rounders.
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'Last season was my first playing in the Premier League, playing with VAR, so it's something that I'm going to have to get used to and work my way around to try and get less yellow cards.
'But it's not something I'm worried about. I think I can control my emotions when I need to. Maybe I'm a little bit old school but it is the way I play and I don't want to change it.'
Juggling the actions of leading the line and getting into trouble is a difficult balancing act.
Delap has been signed to put pressure on current Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson - currently suspended in both the Club World Cup and Premier League for getting a little too physical.
You could argue that they are two of a kind. Delap played a large part of last season with broken ribs to valiantly battle away for Ipswich when they were on the ropes.
Centre forwards win people over by getting stuck in. Jackson was sent off four minutes after coming on in Friday's disastrous 3-1 defeat by Flamengo for putting his studs into an opposing defender's shin.
Delap said: 'Everyone playing football plays close to the edge a little bit. You have to be aggressive, on the front foot all the time.
'I was right in front of it when it happened. It was so unlucky. He has obviously not meant to do it. These things happen in football and I am sure he will get over it.
'With the size of the club there's always going to be competition and I think players thrive off that competition. You're going to work that little bit harder and try to compete.
'It's Chelsea, it's going to be tough and it's going to be competitive. And that's what you relish.'
Delap, 22, harbours ambitions to win big with his new club. He fits the club model of promising young player with plenty of potential.
He has signed a six-year contract and opted for the Club World Cup rather than Euro 2025 with England Under-21s as he looks to bed in.
There's history with Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca from their days together at Manchester City. And a reunion with former City academy players Cole Palmer and Romeo Lavia.
Delap said: 'I've got a good relationship with the manager. I know how he plays. I've played in his system before.
'I know a lot of the players here and the project of the club, how they see the future. That's what excited me.
'We've got a good core of English boys here. I've spent a lot of time with them. I obviously know a few people here already so I've been spending time with them.
'I've known Cole since I was 15, playing at City with him. I've got a good relationship with him so it was nice to see a familiar face.
'I had my sights set on the Euros all season and I was really looking forward to that. But I signed here and they wanted me to be here. I want to be here as well. I need to get to know everyone so that's why I'm here.'
Ipswich turned to famous superfan Ed Sheeran to persuade Delap to sign for them last summer and leave behind Manchester City. Delap said: 'Yeah I had a little FaceTime with him.
'I think he was heavily involved with Ipswich so it was nice to speak to him.
'It was just a token that Ed was really involved in Ipswich and a lot of people were close to him.'
Chelsea had the simple magnetism of Champions League football - which means a bigger spotlight on him now.
Delap said: 'I am just here to play football. I don't look at everything from the outside. I am at a big club now but my mind is strong enough to not let it affect me.
'It is hard to ignore at times but it is just how you take it and you can brush it aside and stay confident.
'I'm really excited. One of the reasons I started playing football was to play in the Champions League.'
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