Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the young striker will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's return is crucial for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes 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 among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
