Delap Back in Action as The Blues Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a team facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. 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 asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his last two games, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who donned 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 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."