Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is important for a club facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions 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 revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, 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 discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."
