Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the physical part is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, 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 different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and footballers who sported it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
