Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a side facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three 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 commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face wider issues beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last term, is still to score 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 initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
