Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite attention from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups 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 a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this term. 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 initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. 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 Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea supporters think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
