Delap Returns as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the new recruit's return is crucial for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite attention from Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face wider issues apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until December.
Wide player 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 score in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and one assist - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in various cups no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who donned it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- 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 scores in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has always been related to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."