Liam Rosenior, known for his meticulous approach, is not one to shy away from showing his players footage of their mistakes. After a glaring miss in this FA Cup fourth-round clash, Liam Delap might have feared a cinematic punishment reminiscent of "A Clockwork Orange," forced to watch his error on repeat upon returning to Cobham.
Delap's Early Blunder and Remarkable Recovery
Initially, Delap seemed to be in the right place at the right time. His pressing forced Hull goalkeeper Dillon Phillips into a hurried clearance, which ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar. The ball came agonisingly close to crossing the line, leading Delap to prematurely celebrate, raising his arm and appealing to the referee. However, the ball had not fully crossed the line, and Delap's delayed reaction to the rebound cost Chelsea a clear scoring opportunity.
This lapse in urgency is something manager Liam Rosenior is likely to address, perhaps already did at half-time. To his credit, Delap responded superbly in the second half, ending the match with three crucial assists. One standout moment showcased his all-round ability: he held up the ball, turned his marker, powered into the box, and unselfishly set up Estevao Willian for a goal. This play prompted teammates Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho, and Jorrel Hato to celebrate with Delap first before congratulating Willian.
Proving His Worth Beyond Goals
Delap's need to improve his goal-scoring record is evident, especially in a competitive environment like Chelsea, where even players like Nicolas Jackson—who scored 30 goals over two seasons—can be deemed surplus to requirements. Since his £30 million summer signing, Delap has netted only three times for Chelsea and missed a chance to add a fourth here. Nonetheless, his performance highlighted other valuable attributes, justifying the club's investment and demonstrating why he remains a key asset.
Pedro Neto Silences His Critics
Few Chelsea players have faced as much recent criticism as Pedro Neto. Despite making a positive impact in their Premier League win at Wolves last weekend, he was subjected to harsh scrutiny, with selective clips circulating on social media to fuel negativity. Neto, who often celebrates with fingers in his ears to block out the noise, answered his detractors emphatically with a hat-trick against Championship side Hull City.
His opening goal was particularly impressive, as he controlled the ball and unleashed a stunning 25-yard curler into the corner, setting the tone for Chelsea's dominant 4-0 victory. While some may dismiss this as finding his level against lower-tier opposition, Neto's performance was a clear statement of his quality and resilience.
Mamadou Sarr's Promising Debut
Mamadou Sarr made his first start for Chelsea and delivered a highly impressive display. Previously, his only appearance was as an 82nd-minute substitute in the Club World Cup against ES Tunis, followed by a loan spell at Strasbourg. Recalled in January due to Chelsea's failure to secure a new central defender, Sarr seized his opportunity against Hull.
Although Hull posed little threat, one moment stood out: Sarr, composed at the back, spotted Estevao's run and launched a precise long pass forward. Estevao should have scored after rounding the goalkeeper but sent his shot over the bar. This incident underscored Sarr's vision and potential to become a star in Chelsea's defence, offering hope for the team's future campaigns.
