Delap Returns as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the summer signing's availability is important for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures 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 central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. 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 every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one goal contribution 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, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in various cups no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side 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 - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A midfielder and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
