Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
- 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 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
