Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is important for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face wider issues apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups 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 midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when queried 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 shirt. It's just a number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
