Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a club facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three setups in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of a trio of players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, notably in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals annually like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has only two goals and one setup - matching homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last term, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team 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 - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and players who sported it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A midfielder and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
