Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Certainly 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 annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A engine room operator and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
