Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and squad members who donned it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A midfielder and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."