Delap Returns as The Blues Look to Address Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
