Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against shock contenders Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, particularly in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not expected return from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
