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For what it’s worth, my weekends (and my mental state in general) has been so much better since I’ve decided to stop watching this team since January. I’d recommend it to anyone who genuinely feels like this club is driving them coo coo.

Analysis The plight of Liam Delap: 20 games in a row without a goal and a Chelsea career yet to take off https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7208705/2026/04/19/liam-delap-Chelsea-rosenior/ Liam Delap toiled in Chelsea's 1-0 defeat by Manchester United Julian Finney/Getty Images With just five games remaining, Liam Delap has scored the same amount of Premier League goals this season for Chelsea as academy graduate defender Josh Acheampong (one) and one fewer than right-back Malo Gusto (two). This was not in the script. Chelsea were understandably very happy to win the race for Delap’s signature from Ipswich Town for £30million last June. This was a highly rated striker that attracted interest from a lot of top clubs, including Bayern Munich, Juventus and Milan. As The Athletic reported at the time, perhaps their biggest challenge came from Manchester United and convincing him to choose Stamford Bridge over Old Trafford was regarded in the game as a bit of a coup. No one is saying that now. Not much has gone right for the 23-year-old since he suffered a hamstring strain against Fulham in late August. It kept him on the sidelines for two months and on his comeback as a substitute at Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup, he was sent off after getting booked twice in 25 minutes. There was the excitement of getting off the mark for the current campaign — his first goal for Chelsea came against El Tunis at the Club World Cup last June — in the high-profile 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona on November 25. Six weeks later, he added his solitary Premier League strike versus Fulham… and that’s it. On Saturday night, Delap made it 20 consecutive appearances without a goal. To make matters worse, it was against Manchester United, the club that wanted to buy him as much as Chelsea. It was a rare chance to impress for 90 minutes due to Joao Pedro pulling out with a minor thigh problem. Delap also had the opportunity of facing a side without four centre-backs (Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt) due to suspension and injury. Up against him was a makeshift partnership comprised of 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui, who normally operates as a full-back. Delap did tap the ball home in the first half but celebrations were short-lived due to Cole Palmer, who provided the assist, being offside. He came the closest to finding an equaliser, after Chelsea fell behind to a Matheus Cunha strike, only for his header from Pedro Neto’s cross to hit the underside of the bar and bounce to safety. Luck was certainly not on his side. Liam Delap is tackled by Ayden Heaven in the Manchester United penalty areaJulian Finney/Getty Images But given who he was up against, Delap did not pose enough of a threat. Should Joao Pedro recover as quickly as the club hope, the Brazil international will surely be back leading the line for Chelsea at Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday night. And herein lies the problem. Sources speaking anonymously to The Athletic to protect relationships say a lack of regular starts is something Delap has found hard to adjust to at Chelsea and has struggled to find any rhythm. It is in complete contrast to how he felt in 2024-25. At Ipswich, he scored 12 times in the Premier League last season, a tally that was all the more impressive given he was playing for a relegated side. But Delap had the confidence of knowing he would be picked most weeks. Delap played in 37 of Ipswich’s league games in 2024-25 and was named in the first XI for 32 of those. Compare that with Chelsea, where, of the 24 league appearances he has made, only 10 have been in the first XI. His longest run of consecutive starts in all competitions stands at just two, something that has happened on only three occasions. Is it any wonder he does not look sharp and appears to be lacking self-belief? However, sympathy will be in short supply, particularly from the fanbase. This is the reality of playing for a big club and in order to get more opportunities, you have to make the most of the ones given to you. Not for the first time, Delap did not do enough. The better form of Joao Pedro, who has scored 14 times in the Premier League for Chelsea, has understandably made him the preferred choice of Enzo Maresca in the first half of the season and Liam Rosenior in the second part. What is concerning is both head coaches knew Delap from earlier in his career: when he was coming through the academy at Manchester City in Maresca’s case and on loan at Hull City (2023-24) under Rosenior. Moments like Liam Delap’s goal against Barcelona in the Champions League in November have been few and far betweenAdrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images And yet neither man has been able to get Delap to spark. The latter appears not to trust him in particular. This was Delap’s first start under Rosenior since the FA Cup win at Wrexham on March 7 and only his second under him in the Premier League. The other came against West Ham United on January 31. He was not even selected for the visit of League One strugglers Port Vale in the FA Cup two weeks ago, with Joao Pedro again being preferred. There are a maximum of seven fixtures remaining for Delap to improve on his statistics. What does the future hold for him? Joao Pedro is clearly first choice and Chelsea agreed a deal with Strasbourg last September for centre-forward Emanuel Emegha to join this summer. Chelsea obviously expected and still hope for Delap to come good, but one of the obvious attractions of his transfer was the low fee. Given his age, potential and position, Chelsea can still command a high sum should another club want to buy him. When interviewed last June, Delap dismissed the notion of the No 9 shirt at Chelsea being a jinx. Many high-profile strikers before him, including Fernando Torres, Alvaro Morata and Romelu Lukaku, wore it at Chelsea only to underwhelm. When asked about deciding among all the options of clubs he had to go to, he also said: “You’ve just got to go with your gut and hopefully it works out.” You have to wonder what his gut is telling him now. By Simon Johnson Chelsea Correspondent

hopefully the more ex players share this shit the better

The project puppet

Chelsea’s Estevao in tears after hamstring injury, Enzo Fernandez to be assessed – Liam Rosenior https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7208348/2026/04/18/estevao-enzo-fernandez-injury-update/ Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior says Estevao was crying in the dressing room after suffering a hamstring injury in the 1-0 loss against Manchester United. Estevao limped off in the 16th minute of Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Stamford Bridge, shortly after he had been sent through on goal and looked in pain as he sent a tame shot at Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The Brazil international will now undergo a scan to determine the severity of the issue. Rosenior told a post-match press conference: “He (Estevao) was devastated, he was crying at half-time. I am really devastated for him. It looks like his hamstring and came at a moment where he was running through on their goal one-v-one. He pulled his hamstring in that moment. I hope Estevao comes back sooner rather than later.” Chelsea have five Premier League matches remaining this season, plus an FA Cup semi-final against Leeds United next Sunday, while Estevao’s Brazil begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13. Chelsea’s next match is at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Tuesday and midfielder Enzo Fernandez will also be assessed after going off with a calf problem late on. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images Fernandez, who was making his first appearance since being banned by Chelsea for two games, was being treated in the dressing room following the final whistle. Rosenior added: “I just saw him in the dressing room. I think it was his calf. I’m hoping it’s cramp. He’s getting work on it right now because we want him obviously fit for Tuesday. “I think the fact that he ran himself into the ground for the club tonight…I expect nothing different from a man of his stature and his quality.” Chelsea were beaten 1-0 by United following a Matheus Cunha goal on the stroke of half time to leave them sixth in the Premier League. By Simon Johnson Chelsea Correspondent

💨🔵Palmer,Enzo and Cucurella absolutly COOKING Alejandro Garnacho for the goal vs Manchester United.

💥📋🔵A good source has said ‘he’s in trouble, players really dislike him.’ Another source still doesn’t expect Chelsea to change it until the summer, if they do change it. However, with UCL being SO important, I we can see them perhaps pulling the trigger earlier than that if we continue losing. Second source also pointed out that it would cost them to sack him now, rather than wait until the summer where there is a clause to end his contract if no UCL. Some HUGE decisions for the club to call now. Absolutely embarrassing. Been told none of the players really like or respect him as a coach. One of the big reasons he’s now in trouble. (@SimonPhillips)

I don't, as it's the paper shown is The Sun (trash of the trash). However, I always believe these rumours come from somewhere. Liam getting the boot is a must right now.

both co-managers fight to submission in a pit to settle disagreements

Fabregas would be the most sensible decision. Idiots still think the manager has no impact on the team though, so they're going to have to learn the hard way with Rosenior.

We went from Tuchel to Poch, to Maresca and now to LR. How on earth does anyone believe we’re going for Simeone?

That would be some shift in playstyle were it to happen. I can't see it, though. He isn't a yes man.

This signing of Liam and the weak summer transfer window showed everything that’s wrong. Ignoring Maresca’s request for a new centre-back, the obsession with buying unproven young players like Delap and Gittsen… it’s the same mistakes all over again. Bringing in a replacement for Sánchez was also ignored. They had a top 4 finish and a Club World Cup title as a platform to go out and sign quality players, but instead they chose mediocrity. Now suddenly there’s talk that they’re open to more established players, after four years of people saying exactly that. We’re going to end up around 8th or 9th, and honestly, it’ll be deserved.

Taking this report with a bucket of salt. But glad to see that even the public position on Liam has shifted

And they have common sense! They wouldn't stand for the crap!

Could you even imagine either of these two trying to work with the shit show upstairs? 😂😂😂 Much as I’d love Conte back he’d literally murder these guys if they tried some of the stuff they pull.

💥🔵Estevão’s injury is mild and he will return to the pitch before Ancelotti announces the Brasil squad on May 18 for the World Cup (@Globo)

Nahhhhh same we wont. We have lost 11 games and only won 13. We'll end up losing more then we've won.

Biggest yes man in football, came with no CV, no experience, no footballing idea and talks in fucking riddles Biggest and most pathetic appointment I have ever seen a this club, and I have seen a lot of bad decisions

If we haven't put a call into Iraola then we have a serious problem

I can see us not winning another game this season

We only have two options left then: either reappoint Conte or Mourinho.