Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a team facing criticism over their unpredictability, 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 a ÂŁ30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not fully fit it's hard to perform, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea face broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all season and is not expected return from a groin problem until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to ÂŁ52m, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a ÂŁ40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a potential ÂŁ51 million deal, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in various cups no striker has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been vacant since recently, 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) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [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 figure that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
