Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the young striker will be phased in "carefully", and the recent acquisition's comeback is important for a club facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their primary hope of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "shielded".
When queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Certainly the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a different kind of nine to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until the winter.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven matches and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one setup - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last campaign, is still to score this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but prior to that scored only once in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in all competitions no forward has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the quintet of attackers 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 second for dead-ball situations in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers think the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and footballers who donned it since the mid-2000s have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are included in this group, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when asked 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 digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
