Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the new recruit's return is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with additional challenges apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is yet to find the net this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."
