Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Striker Issues
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is important for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea face wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been vacant since last year, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
