Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is crucial for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"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 annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign 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 zero strikes and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A central player and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
