Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. 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 "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in various cups no forward has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
