Delap Returns as The Blues Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
