Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers 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 been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the recent acquisition's comeback is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly 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 find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term 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 one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his last two games, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in every tournament no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A midfielder and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis 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 like and there's no pressure."
