Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a side facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea face additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score 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, the teenager, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores 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) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
