Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's return is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. 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 every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront 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 the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, 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 offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- 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) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A engine room operator and backline player are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
