Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the young striker will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is vital for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a ÂŁ30 million fee despite attention from the Red Devils, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below ÂŁ55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a ÂŁ52m package, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a ÂŁ40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a ÂŁ51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned 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 second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."