Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a club facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea face wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea supporters believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
