Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's return is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed 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 dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last season, is without a goal this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his last two games, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in various cups no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score 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 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."