Chelsea Advances in FA Cup with Strong Performance

omidbasir- Chelsea advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup with a commanding performance at the MKM Stadium, defeating Hull City 4-0. The victory was highlighted by a hat-trick from Pedro Neto and a goal from Estevao.

However, it was a challenging evening for striker Liam Delap, who once again could not find the back of the net. In the first half, he had a prime opportunity to score but failed to confirm that the ball had crossed the line after blocking a clearance from the goalkeeper. Although he collected the loose ball and attempted a shot, it was blocked by Phillips. Delap ended the match with three assists, yet he has only managed two goals in 23 appearances this season and has not scored in his last nine games for Chelsea.

After the match, Delap expressed his frustration, stating, “I swear on my life, I almost ran off. I thought it went in. Obviously, I was waiting for the ref to blow his whistle. I should have put it in a second time, but it was crazy. Silly from me, but I thought it went in.”

Delap’s miss drew criticism from pundit and Premier League record goal-scorer Alan Shearer, who remarked on BBC Sport, “Goodness me. What is Delap doing? It is as if he is thinking, ‘I have all the time in the world.’ He ambles to it and takes his time. What are you waiting for? Liam Delap has not had a good four minutes. He has given it away twice and missed a sitter. Delap has been poor and he has been given the opportunity tonight. He looks very lazy; his performances must improve.”

Despite the early struggles, Delap rebounded well, ultimately providing three assists in the match, which prompted Shearer to commend him later on: “Delap recovered well from that start and has been instrumental in the win. He deserves a lot of credit for that.”

Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior lauded Delap’s performance post-match, stating, “Top performance. To be a No.9, especially in our system, it’s not always about yourself. It’s about bringing others into play and making sacrifice runs for teammates. He started our press very well. It’s encouraging to see so many players contributing, which indicates a strong team performance. From 1-15, it was a very strong display tonight.”

Rosenior further elaborated on the overall team performance, expressing his satisfaction: “The positive takeaway was the application of the team. Our pressing, intensity, and work rate were impressive, with Pedro exemplifying that. I feel fortunate to have such talented players who are also outstanding professionals. It was a professional performance against a very good team pushing for the Premier League. Some of our football was exactly what I want to see, and the team’s values tonight made me a very happy coach.”

Chelsea will learn their fifth-round opponents on Monday during the draw for the next stage of the FA Cup. In the meantime, they will turn their attention to their upcoming Premier League match against Burnley next week.