Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's return is crucial for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.
Attacking midfielder 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 £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
