Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Look to Address Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until the winter.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since recently, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."