ES Tunis vs Chelsea: Delap’s Goal, other key takeaways

Chelsea’s Club World Cup encounter with ES Tunis was action-packed. With Liam Delap’s composed finish at the heart of the action, here are five key takeaways from the match.

1. Delap’s Clinical Strike Gives Youngster a Boost

Liam Delap once again showed his predatory instincts with a composed, well-timed strike that separated the teams. His positioning and movement demonstrated maturity, while his calm finish under pressure rounded off a moment of poise—just the kind of performance Maresca will want from his young forwards. The goal highlights Delap’s readiness to challenge for a bigger role this season.

2. Maresca’s Tactical Blueprint Emerging

This match again gave a glimpse of Maresca’s tactical blueprint. His favoured 4‑2‑3‑1/4‑3‑3 hybrid was visible: controlled build-up play, fluid positional rotations, and intent to dominate possession. The full-backs also played high, offering width and pressing urgency—hints of the possession-heavy philosophy he inherited from Guardiola as an assistant, now being tailored to Chelsea’s squad.

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3. Squad Rotation: Depth Gets Its Chance

Maresca made several changes—rotating across midfield and defence—to manage fitness amid a congested Club World Cup schedule. With intense heat in North America, he emphasized recovery over heavy training. Players like Andrey Santos and Christopher Nkunku, previously on the fringes, got valuable minutes. We’ll be watching if they seize this opportunity.

4. Midfield Balance Under Construction

Although possession remained predominantly Chelsea’s, midfield control occasionally faltered. Maresca has a midfield-rich squad featuring Enzo Fernández, Moisés Caicedo, Roméo Lavia, and Cole Palmer, making rotational coherence a challenge. Against ES Tunis, the midfield looked energetic but lacked consistency—something Maresca must solve before the Premier League campaign kicks into gear.

5. Defensive Stability: Encouraging but Room to Grow

Chelsea kept a clean sheet, but ES Tunis created danger from set-pieces and crosses—with the defence showing some lapses in concentration. While Maresca’s era has opened with Champions League qualification and a European trophy, defensive consistency will be vital for sustained success. The backline must tighten up ahead of tougher opponents.