Delap Back in Action as The Blues Look to Address Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the League Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the summer signing's comeback is important for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of securing honors this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face broader problems apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but before that scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in various cups no forward has above two scores, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers feel the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and defender are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
