Delap Back in Action as The Blues Look to Address Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is important for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to 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.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers believe the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- 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 strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A midfielder and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
