Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."
"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 alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his last two games, but before that scored only once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
