Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "not the best".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's availability is important for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite attention from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders 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 conditioning element is vital. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in various cups no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers believe the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who sported it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
