Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Look to Address Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is coming back from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on recently, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and key passes as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's return is vital for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £55m signing Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."
"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 provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from full-back last season, is still to score this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but earlier scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the five players at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the pioneering side to have ten various goalscorers in the first division this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and players who donned it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- 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 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- 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) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
