Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is important for a team facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite interest from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, particularly in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea face additional challenges beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two setups in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since last year, and squad members 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) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I like and there's zero expectation."
