Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite attention from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games 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 - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in various cups no striker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and footballers who donned it since the mid-2000s have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"Ultimately 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 appreciate and there's no added burden."
