Delap Returns as Chelsea Look to Address Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the emerging talent will be phased in "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is crucial for a team facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to ones that score 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with wider issues beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a lower body issue until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the front, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."