Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna makes a claim about ‘formidable’ Chelsea ahead of their Premier League clash.

Kieran McKenna has praised Chelsea’s strength and squad depth as his Ipswich Town side gear up for a daunting Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge this Sunday.

The Tractor Boys face an uphill battle in their fight for top-flight survival, and their manager is under no illusions about the challenge awaiting them in West London.

Fresh from a commanding Conference League quarter-final win over Legia Warsaw, Chelsea return to domestic action needing to maintain momentum in the race for a top-five finish — especially with five Champions League places now available to English clubs. Despite fielding a rotated squad in Poland, Enzo Maresca’s men looked sharp, with young full-back Josh Acheampong drawing particular praise.

Yet while the fixture looks one of Chelsea’s more favourable on paper, Ipswich have already upset the odds once this season — they remain the only side to have beaten the Blues at home in league play.

Speaking ahead of the game, McKenna said:

“They’ve built a really formidable squad, a really young, talented, athletic squad. I don’t know how many changes they made for the game on Thursday evening, but I think it was a very different starting 11 to the one that faced Brentford last weekend.”

With Chelsea’s depth being tested across multiple competitions, fringe players are pushing hard for more minutes — but McKenna knows that whichever lineup is selected, the hosts will pose a significant threat.

Liam Delap Under the Spotlight

If Ipswich are to pull off another surprise, much will hinge on Liam Delap, who has emerged as a standout performer despite the club’s struggles. With 12 Premier League goals this term, Delap is attracting serious attention — Chelsea included — and Sunday offers him a major audition in front of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.

Should Ipswich go down, a release clause in Delap’s contract will be active — a fact not lost on several top-flight clubs ready to pounce. Chelsea are expected to sign a striker in the summer, and the 21-year-old’s name is firmly in the mix.

What’s at Stake

• Chelsea are fighting to secure a European spot and can’t afford to drop points against teams in the relegation zone.
• Ipswich, hovering near the bottom, are desperate for a late-season push, and any result at Stamford Bridge would be a huge boost.

While the odds are stacked against the visitors, McKenna’s respect for Chelsea’s project is clear — and his belief in his squad, led by Delap, means Ipswich won’t be heading to London just to make up the numbers.

In other news, Liam Delap Responds to Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal Transfer Links