Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is important for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who donned it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
