Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's return is important for a side facing questions over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with wider issues in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and backline player are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
