Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not anticipated to feature 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 one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last term, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea supporters believe the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes 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) - one goal in twelve matches
- 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 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."