Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is important for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the physical part is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores 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 goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
