Pep Guardiola details Manchester City youngster Liam Delap’s ‘special qualities’

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola praised the ‘special qualities’ Liam Delap has, and said the striker has a unique role in his squad.

The youngster came on for the final 13 minutes of City’s 4-1 FA Cup win over Fulham on Saturday, which was his first senior appearance of the season due to the injury.

The highly rated attacker, who signed a contract extension earlier this season, saw a well-placed headed goal ruled out for offside in the 90th minute and looked lively during the cameo.

City have tended to operate without a central striker all campaign, and for that reason Guardiola feels Delap can bring something different to the team.

“Liam, last season, grew up a lot through the team, especially with [former youth coach] Enzo Maresca, [he] helped him a lot to develop,” said the City manager in the post-match press conference.

“He is the type of striker we don’t have. He is a killer, he is a typical British striker. An incredible finisher. He has to improve [knowing] when to drop, the first contact.

“The only problem we had this season is from the beginning he has been injured. Injury after injury because he struggled a lot with his ankles. He was not fit. One week ago, I think, he played the first game with the second team.

“But he has special quality and he is a different striker than we have. In the box, the goal is offside, but it was a [good] goal. He has this quality, and I am happy for him.”

What Delap needs to do

Guardiola was asked a further question about Delap and was quizzed on what the 18-year-old can add to his game in order to become a more established part of the first team squad.

But the former Barcelona manager explained it’s simply a case of hard work and patience for Delap, who he feels has the quality to thrive at the Etihad.

“He is 18 years old, one of the precious values you need is to be patient. If you are patient and have the quality to fight in every training session, it will pay off in your career. You will get what you deserve,” said Guardiola.

“Nobody knows what will happen next season, honestly. We are still in this season and many players will leave and many will stay, nobody knows,” he added.

“What he has to do is work for himself and do what he is doing, be fit. He’s a special striker and a lovely guy, and he’s a fighter. Every training session against [Amy] Laporte, against Ruben [Dias], against John [Stones] and Nathan [Ake] he fights and most of the time wins the duals, or breaks his nose.

“Today he played first-team minutes. Be patient and fight in the right moments. He is good and for the quality he has he will get what he deserves.”