Chelsea favourite Liam Rosenior's comments about Liam Delap speak volumes

Chelsea are searching for their next permanent boss, with Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior currently the favourite to land the job, which will be music to the ears of Liam Delap

The idea of Liam Rosenior becoming Chelsea's next manager may not excite everyone - but it could prove a major boost for Liam Delap. The Blues striker has struggled for form and fitness since his £30million move from Ipswich in the summer, netting just once in 13 appearances this season.

After Enzo Maresca's shock dismissal on New Year's Day, Rosenior has emerged as the leading contender to replace him. The 41-year-old has been making a strong impression at Strasbourg - Chelsea's sister club - and his work there has clearly caught the attention of BlueCo.

But Chelsea's owners aren't the only ones who rate Rosenior highly. Delap knows him well from their time together at Hull City, where the pair developed a strong working relationship.

Delap spent the 2023/24 season on loan at the MKM Stadium before enjoying his breakout campaign at Ipswich. Rosenior, who managed Hull between 2022 and 2024, quickly identified the striker's vast potential and regularly spoke glowingly about him.

"He is one of a kind and I love him," Rosenior said in November 2023. "He is probably the player who I shout at the most in training. But he is a player I enjoy working with a lot as well... he is showing some really positive moments for us."

If Rosenior is appointed at Stamford Bridge, Delap would likely greet the move enthusiastically. The forward scored eight goals in 26 starts under the Englishman and could once again be trusted as a central figure - especially given Rosenior's preference for a strong, direct No. 9 to lead the line.

Under Maresca, Delap has been forced to settle for a bit-part role. That is largely due to an injury-hit debut season in west London, with hamstring and shoulder problems sidelining him for months and disrupting any chance of sustained momentum.

In Delap's absence, Joao Pedro has often been deployed as a makeshift No. 9. Now back to full fitness, Delap could be given the opportunity to displace the Brazilian as Chelsea's central striker.

That said, it need not be a straight shootout between the two. Pedro is comfortable operating across the forward line, while Rosenior has shown a willingness to adapt tactically, at times opting for a two-man attack.

In that scenario, Delap and Pedro could feasibly be paired together, offering Chelsea a blend of physicality and technical quality in the final third.

Delap isn't the only Chelsea star who has flourished under Rosenior. Andrey Santos, who spent last season on loan at Strasbourg, enjoyed a major breakthrough season at the club, netting 11 goals before being crowned Ligue 1 Young Player of the Season.

Strasbourg striker Emmanuel Emegha, who is on his way to Chelsea in the summer, has also been thriving, scoring 21 goals in 40 games under Rosenior.

Since moving to Strasbourg in July 2024, Rosenior's reputation has skyrocketed. Managing the youngest squad in the division, he guided them to a 7th-place finish and European qualification in his debut season.

At one stage, Strasbourg were even in the hunt for a Champions League spot, a prospect that would have created a significant headache for Chelsea and BlueCo. Under UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, two teams controlled by the same entity are generally prohibited from competing in the same European competition.

Had Strasbourg qualified for the Champions League alongside Chelsea, the owners might have been forced to move the French club into a "blind trust" to avoid a conflict of interest or potential demotion for one of the sides.

Tactically, Rosenior has implemented a modern, possession-oriented style that aligns closely with the long-term vision at Stamford Bridge. His approach focuses on structured build-up from the back, high-intensity pressing, fast counterattacks and tactical flexibility.

While he often utilises a 3-4-2-1 or 4-2-3-1 system, he is known for adapting his shape to dominate the ball and exploit specific opposition weaknesses. This "process-driven" philosophy has seen Strasbourg overachieve their expected points more than almost any other team in France, transforming them from a side fighting relegation into one of the most exciting young outfits in Europe.

That said, after a strong start to the 2025/26 campaign, Strasbourg have hit a rough patch. After winning five of their first eight league games - and holding PSG to an entertaining 3-3 draw - Rosenior's side have lost three out of their last four and are winless in Ligue 1 since November 9.

But despite this recent wobble in form, the prospect of Rosenior bringing his tactical identity and developmental Midas touch to West London suggests that for Chelsea and Liam Delap, the best may be yet to come.