Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the new recruit's return is crucial for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one setup - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is still to score this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A midfielder and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."
