Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."