Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with head coach 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 goal contributions as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is vital for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "For sure the physical part is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who wore it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
