Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a side facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in various cups no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- 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): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
