Delap Returns as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's return is important for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been available since recently, and squad members 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) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
