Delap Returns as Chelsea Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the victory over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca said the young striker will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's availability is vital for a side facing scrutiny over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy 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 USA. The Brazil striker scored another two and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until the winter.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit 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 fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - paralleling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in various cups no striker has more than two goals, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In moreover, the West London club are the pioneering side to have 10 different scorers in the first division this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- 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 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A central player and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
