Delap Makes Comeback as The Blues Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be phased in "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their most realistic chance of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "For sure the conditioning element is important. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this season. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no forward has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when asked about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's zero expectation."
