Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who donned 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 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
