It was supposed to be just another pre-season friendly, but one moment involving Liam Delap stole the spotlight.
After Chelsea sealed a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Stamford Bridge, cameras caught Delap’s reaction to Joao Pedro’s late goal—and social media wasted no time in dissecting every expression.
Chelsea’s Comfortable Victory at the Bridge
Enzo Maresca’s men looked sharp on Friday night.
Teenage sensation Estevao got the party started, slotting home after Cole Palmer’s shot rattled the woodwork.
Then, deep into the second half, Pedro came off the bench and coolly tucked the ball into the bottom corner to wrap up the win.
Delap’s Big Night Takes a Twist
For Delap, signed from Ipswich this summer, it was a milestone—his first home start in blue.
He looked lively early on, forcing two smart saves from goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
But when Pedro replaced him late in the game and scored almost instantly, the focus shifted to Delap’s reaction on the bench.
Social Media Jumps In
Fans quickly shared the clip online, with some joking that Delap was already second-guessing his move.
“Yeah, he’s like, ‘Damn, it’s going to take a while,’” one user wrote. Another chimed in: “He knows he’s second choice already.”
Still, not everyone saw it that way—others praised his serious expression, saying it showed hunger to compete for his spot.
Choosing Chelsea Over Big Names
Delap had other options this summer, including interest from Manchester United and Newcastle.
But he committed to Chelsea with a six-year deal, arriving to push Nicolas Jackson for the starting striker role.
His 12 goals in 37 Premier League appearances last season made him one of the league’s brightest young forwards.
The Twist in the Striker Situation
Ironically, the man Delap was meant to challenge could soon be gone.
Daily Mail Sport has revealed that Nicolas Jackson is now pushing for a move away.
Left out of the squad for the Leverkusen game, Jackson spent Friday training alone at Cobham while the rest of the team prepared for kickoff.
Chelsea Open to a Deal
With the striker telling club chiefs he wants to explore a transfer, Chelsea are in discussions with clubs in both the Premier League and Europe.
If the right offer comes in, the Blues are prepared to sanction the sale—potentially clearing the path for Delap to become a first-choice option sooner than expected.