Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Striker Issues
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 Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is crucial for a team facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups 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 stated he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront wider issues in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a groin injury until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since joining from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his past two matches, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four goals.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has discovered methods to challenge despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this campaign.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a number that has historically been connected to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."
