Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is coming back 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 their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said 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 national tournaments their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea supporters think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and footballers who wore it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores 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) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
