Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Look to Address Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in every tournament no forward has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A midfielder and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
