Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's return is important for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £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 appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea supporters believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who wore it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- 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 sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
