For more than 90 minutes, it looked like Chelsea were going to start their post-Enzo Maresca era with a loss. Thankfully, they were able to salvage a draw from the game against Manchester City. A late goal from Enzo Fernandez helped them escape with a point and some hope for what is to come moving forward, with Liam Rosenior looking likely to be appointed as the new manager very soon.
It was not the best display from Chelsea by any means. But there were some players who did stand out on the night. One of them was a surprising one.
One of the biggest reasons Chelsea have struggled this season is because of how ineffective most of their summer signings have been. Liam Delap certainly falls under that category, as the English striker has yet to score a Premier League goal for the Blues.
That being said, he did catch the eye with his performance against Manchester City. NBC Sports gave him an 8/10 rating, the highest for any Chelsea player on the night. The report went on to state: "Bright with his hold up play, created a great chance for himself and dragged Chelsea back into it. A proper handful."
'A proper handful' - Chelsea player hailed for performance vs Man City
Delap has been on the receiving end of heavy criticism for his performances since joining Chelsea. Against Manchester City, he showed that he does have something different to offer. For many, it was a Diego Costa-esque performance. Nizaar Kinsella wrote: "Someone has put the Diego Costa spirit in him. Classic."
The Englishman was certainly more effective than his Brazilian teammate on the day. A fan wrote: "Delap had done more in 10 minutes than Joao Pedro did in 60 minutes."
Perhaps there is still a future for Delap at Chelsea. While a lot of fans have grown frustrated with his lack of output, a change in manager could end up helping him. It certainly gives him a fresh start.
We all know that Joao Pedro can be great on his day. But on far too many occasions, he has been passive. A striker who drifts in and out of games and never looks likely to score. What Chelsea needs is someone who will score 20-plus goals every season. The best-case scenario would be for Delap to develop into that. Otherwise, they will need to go out and find out, most likely for a premium transfer fee.