Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of securing honors this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans feel the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
