Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's return is important for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
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 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 outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- 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) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [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 number that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
