Delap Returns as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Striker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a club facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite attention from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is important. When you are not fully fit it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not expected return from a lower body issue until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal 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 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defender are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
