Delap Returns as The Blues Look to Address Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's return is crucial for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite attention from Manchester United, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this summer's Club World Cup - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three setups in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Certainly the physical part is vital. When you are not fully fit it's difficult to compete, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and give assists but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals annually like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea face additional challenges apart from their attackers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Attacker Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from full-back last campaign, is yet to find the net this term. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his past two matches, but before that scored only once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the English top division, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is hexed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and players who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 games
A central player and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would contend Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a figure on the jersey of your uniform. It's just a number that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."