Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers 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 sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
