Liam Delap has been handed Chelsea’s well-known No.9 shirt, a quantity that has weighed closely on a number of strikers earlier than him, however former Blues ahead Olivier Giroud believes the teen has what it takes to succeed. Delap not too long ago accomplished a £30 million change from Ipswich and is about to make his debut on the upcoming Membership World Cup after signing a six-year deal.
The No.9 shirt at Stamford Bridge has seen a protracted listing of huge names falter underneath stress—Romelu Lukaku, Fernando Torres, Gonzalo Higuain, and others all struggled to reside as much as expectations. Since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s forgettable spell, the quantity has remained unused till Delap’s arrival.
Giroud, who wore the No.9 at AC Milan, recalled the same warning he obtained from membership legend Paolo Maldini in regards to the supposed curse of the quantity. The Frenchman dismissed the superstition and went on to have a profitable stint, stating {that a} striker’s success isn’t outlined by the quantity on his again however by his mentality and resilience.
He emphasised that being a ahead comes with intense scrutiny—in the future a hero, the subsequent within the highlight for missed possibilities. Giroud believes Delap has the psychological energy and character to deal with that stress and shine in Chelsea’s assault.
Delap joins a Chelsea squad filled with younger expertise forward of their Membership World Cup marketing campaign. Alongside forwards like Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, and Christopher Nkunku, the 21-year-old might be seeking to stake his declare in a aggressive setup underneath excessive expectations.
Giroud praised Delap’s capacity and believes the staff atmosphere will assist him settle rapidly. “He’s very proficient,” Giroud stated. “The boys will assist him settle properly. I feel he might be advantageous.”
Chelsea kick off their Membership World Cup journey towards LAFC on June 16, with additional fixtures towards Flamengo and ES Tunis later within the month.
