Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back 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 stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's availability is crucial for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, 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 good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last season, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea supporters feel the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
