Enzo Maresca Challenges Delap To Get Position Number 9 Of The England National Team

JAKARTA - Enzo Maresca believes Liam Delap has the potential to become the main striker of the England National Team (Timnas).

However, he also warned the 22-year-old player to fight hard into Chelsea's line-up first.

Delap was able to make his Blues debut against LAFC in the FIFA Club World Cup opener on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, early in the morning WIB, in Atlanta after completing a 30-million move from Ipswich Town earlier this month.

Chelsea beat a number of clubs including Manchester United to get Delap's signature amid expectations that the former Manchester City academy player will one day be able to rival Harry Kane to lead his country's front line.

Kane is England captain and the all-time leading scorer with 73 goals from 107 appearances.

Maresca also challenged Delap to become the main striker of the Three Lions

"When we faced Ipswich, before we faced Ipswich, so (when) Liam was not a Chelsea player, I said that for me, Liam has the potential."

"He could be the number nine England player. What is certain is that he is now with us. I will say again that I have no doubt that he could be England's number nine player in the future."

"I never told players that you will be the first choice. The message is always the same, you come, you work hard, you work harder than the other number nine players and you will be the number nine first choice player. So, talks with Liam are pretty clear."

"He really wants to join us because he knows the way we play, the season we've been through together, we also won for the first time for Manchester City in the U-23 competition."

"He scored 24 or 25 goals that season. So he knows exactly what we can give him."

"I know what Liam can give us. So, I think it's equally profitable and the talks are pretty easy."

"We love Liam, Liam likes us, so it's an easy talk," said Maresca.

Chelsea handed over the number 9 shirt to Delap, which for the past few years has been difficult for many top players, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, Alvaro Morata, and Fernando Torres.

"Liam knows very well how important number nine is to this club. Personally I don't see any problem with that."

"I saw Liam quite relaxed, relaxed, he played well. Since he came, he played well."

"We've known each other for years. So, I know what Liam can give us, he knows what we can give him to develop and become a better player."

"Once again, for the number nine player, hopefully he can score for us," said Maresca, who coached Delap while he was at Manchester City.

Midfielder Moises Caicedo supports Delap to have a direct impact during the tournament in the United States after impressed in training.

"We are happy to have him because he is a very great player. He showed (it) last season, so we were happy."

"He trains very well. You can see the quality. To be sure, we will score a lot of goals with this amazing player," Caicedo said.