Delap Returns as The Blues Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's return is vital for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this term.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been available since recently, and players who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A central player and defender are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when queried about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."