Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a side facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is important. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face broader problems apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four goals.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A central player and backline player are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
