Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups 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 a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront broader problems apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and a single assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this campaign. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since recently, and players who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
