Delap Back in Action as The Blues Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a side facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea supporters feel the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
