Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Look to Address Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of securing honors this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a groin problem until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since recently, and players who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
