Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for ÂŁ30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to ÂŁ55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated 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 commented: "Certainly the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential ÂŁ52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a ÂŁ40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a ÂŁ51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but before that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, 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) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike 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) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."