Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit 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 fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not expected return from a groin problem until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his last two games, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
