Latest news with #NicolasJackson
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Enzo Maresca taking Club World Cup ‘game by game' as Benfica clash looms
Chelsea have their sights on the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup as they take on Benfica in Charlotte on Saturday. The Blues secured their place in the last 16 of the tournament with a comfortable 3-0 win over Esperance Tunis on Tuesday. As runners-up to Flamengo in Group D, the Londoners booked a clash with the Portuguese giants, who surprisingly beat Bayern Munich to top Group C. Victory would take Chelsea into the last eight and a meeting with Palmeiras or Botafogo, who face each other in an all-Brazilian clash in Philadelphia. Yet coach Enzo Maresca is not looking that far ahead yet, nor is he even thinking about the impact his side's run in the United States could have on their next Premier League campaign. He insists his only focus is on preparing to face the Lisbon side. The Italian said: 'The next game is on Saturday and from there we'll take it game by game. 'I'm not thinking about the final or how long it is before the Premier League starts. 'We can't think about playing in the final if we're not focused on Benfica and the rest of the games afterwards. 'I like to take it game by game, because I think it's the right thing to do.' Maresca has so far been ringing the changes from game to game to spread the workload due to the sweltering conditions. Further rotation is likely, with Maresca having said not to do so would be 'impossible', but striker Nicolas Jackson remains suspended. The Senegal international was handed a two-match ban for his straight red card against Flamengo last week. That could mean another start for new signing Liam Delap, who has impressed in the tournament so far and scored his first goal for the club against Esperance. Maresca said: 'We know Benfica are a top club with a top manager and first-class players. 'It is going to be very difficult but we were 32 teams, now 16 remains and we hope to go to the quarter-finals.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Few Chelsea players considered untouchable this transfer window
Neither striker Nicolas Jackson nor winger Noni Madueke are seen as untouchable this summer having been linked with moves away from Chelsea in recent weeks, but both would command large fees and are not actively being forced out of the asked about Madueke's future recently, boss Enzo Maresca said: "Noni is our player. You can read a lot of speculation at the moment, but we consider Noni our player for the coming season."However, the arrival of 18-year-old Estevao Willian from Palmeiras after the Club World Cup would mean another left-footed right winger joins the squad in addition to Madueke and Pedro Blues' attitude towards sales of senior players is that few are considered off the table - except top performers Cole Palmer and Moises Andrey Santos is attracting significant interest after a successful loan spell and has struggled for minutes in the Club World Cup, despite making his Chelsea debut as a substitute against ES Blues would ideally want to keep Santos as a squad player but he could push for an Mike Penders and Filip Jorgensen, midfielders Kendry Paez and Mathis Amougou, and defender Aaron Anselmino could all join Strasbourg on loan, but Chelsea are open to allowing their best young players to seek other temporary moves if they can find clubs with European Omari Kellyman, a £19m signing from Aston Villa last summer, remains out after surgery on a hamstring injury but is expected to be back before the transfer window closes and is seeking a Championship loan move to get his career back on are out to sell the vast majority of the senior players not included in their 28-man Club World Cup squad, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja, Djordje Petrovic and Lesley in Saudi Arabia are believed to be monitoring Felix's academy graduates could also leave permanently, like Leo Castledine, Alfie Gilchrist and Sam first revealed by BBC Sport, goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to join Arsenal for £5m.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'A breath of fresh air' - fan views on Delap and Jackson
We asked for your views on how Liam Delap will fare next season and whether he should be first choice ahead of Nicolas Jackson. Here are some of your comments:George: It's very hard to compare strikers from clubs at either end of the table. However the goals/XG score is really interesting. I reserve judgement until the end of the season, seeing how both play in this team. My hunch is Delap will shine, and Nico has a lot of growing to do in terms of his temperament and turning his wasteful nature in front of Delap is a natural, instinctive, talented striker with a great temperament. Jackson is the polar opposite and a proven liability. He must Delap should lead the line, I think Delap is more composed and looking at the team he's coming from, he will do better and score more goals with Chelsea if he gets the supply. At that age, he will be a great asset to F: I think it's time Jackson found another team. He has demonstrated he is not a team player (red cards) and a reluctance to pass. Too often he tries to dribble into an impossible situation and loses possession. On paper, Delap appears to be a terrific fit and a striker that is dearly Delap is a breath of fresh air. He's positive and gelled the team instantly. I'd play him ahead of Jackson all day Delap for me every time, Jackson's a liability. Give Delap the service and he'll get goals. It's the other end I'm more concerned with. The goalkeeper situation is a joke. We're a world-class club with a third-rate goalkeeper. It's ridiculous and so Delap any day of the week. Jackson has shown how much of a liability he is -his petulant behaviour is his downfall. Delap is a future England star.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has high hopes for new recruit Liam Delap
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has no doubt Liam Delap is going to be a huge success at the club. Delap scored his first goal since his £30million move from Ipswich as Chelsea beat Esperance Tunis 3-0 in Philadelphia to reach the last 16 of the Club World Cup. Advertisement It was the striker's second start in succession, having made his debut as a substitute in their opening Group D against Los Angeles FC. Enzo Maresca has been pleased with Liam Delap's start at Chelsea (Rafal Oleksiewicz/PA) With fellow forward Nicolas Jackson still suspended for Saturday's clash with Benfica in the second round, the 22-year-old has a chance to cement his place in the side. Maresca told reporters: 'We know Liam is going to score goals for us, we don't have any doubts about that. 'Against Flamengo he had three clear chances to score goals, so that is a good feeling because it means he is there, he is in the right position and doing well. Advertisement 'Unfortunately, he didn't score against Flamengo, but he scored here. 'We expect the process to be quite quick with Liam because we know him and he knows us in the way we want to play.' Chelsea took command against the Tunisians with a quickfire double in first-half stoppage time. Tosin Adarabioyo opened the scoring with a fine header and Delap followed up moments later by beating two challenges and rolling the ball past statuesque goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said. Advertisement Both goals were created by the impressive Enzo Fernandez. Tyrique George scored a third in time added on at the end of the game with another shot Ben Said should have saved. The result meant the Blues finished second in Group D behind Flamengo. They will now head to Charlotte at the weekend to face Benfica, who beat one of the tournament favourites in Bayern Munich to top Group C. Advertisement 'We know Benfica is a top club, with a top manager, and top players,' who made eight changes against Esperance largely due to the draining effects of playing and training in the heat. 'It's going to be tough but from 32 we are now into the round of 16 and our next target is go into the quarter-finals.' Cole Palmer was among the players not to feature against Esperance Tunis (Andrew Matthews/PA) The temperature in Philadelphia was 33C despite the game kicking off at 9pm local time. Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo and Reece James were among the players benched. Advertisement Maresca said: 'It's impossible not to rotate players because playing every three days in these conditions means it's not possible for them to play every game. 'The ones that played were good and we've given some rest to many players. It's important to recover the energy and try to win the next game.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has high hopes for new recruit Liam Delap
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has no doubt Liam Delap is going to be a huge success at the club. Delap scored his first goal since his £30million move from Ipswich as Chelsea beat Esperance Tunis 3-0 in Philadelphia to reach the last 16 of the Club World Cup. It was the striker's second start in succession, having made his debut as a substitute in their opening Group D against Los Angeles FC. With fellow forward Nicolas Jackson still suspended for Saturday's clash with Benfica in the second round, the 22-year-old has a chance to cement his place in the side. Maresca told reporters: 'We know Liam is going to score goals for us, we don't have any doubts about that. 'Against Flamengo he had three clear chances to score goals, so that is a good feeling because it means he is there, he is in the right position and doing well. 'Unfortunately, he didn't score against Flamengo, but he scored here. 'We expect the process to be quite quick with Liam because we know him and he knows us in the way we want to play.' Chelsea took command against the Tunisians with a quickfire double in first-half stoppage time. Tosin Adarabioyo opened the scoring with a fine header and Delap followed up moments later by beating two challenges and rolling the ball past statuesque goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said. Both goals were created by the impressive Enzo Fernandez. Tyrique George scored a third in time added on at the end of the game with another shot Ben Said should have saved. The result meant the Blues finished second in Group D behind Flamengo. They will now head to Charlotte at the weekend to face Benfica, who beat one of the tournament favourites in Bayern Munich to top Group C. 'We know Benfica is a top club, with a top manager, and top players,' who made eight changes against Esperance largely due to the draining effects of playing and training in the heat. 'It's going to be tough but from 32 we are now into the round of 16 and our next target is go into the quarter-finals.' The temperature in Philadelphia was 33C despite the game kicking off at 9pm local time. Cole Palmer, Marc Cucurella, Pedro Neto, Moises Caicedo and Reece James were among the players benched. Maresca said: 'It's impossible not to rotate players because playing every three days in these conditions means it's not possible for them to play every game. 'The ones that played were good and we've given some rest to many players. It's important to recover the energy and try to win the next game.'
