Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's availability is crucial for a side facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments 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 attention from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and a single assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans believe the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, 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 curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."