Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a team facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
