Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
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 winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite interest from the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the French superstar or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in all competitions no attacker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the top flight this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is jinxed. It had been vacant since last year, and footballers who sported 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) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 games
A central player and defender are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
