Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat against surprise package Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "a lack of creativity" and his squad's passes being "subpar".
Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the new recruit's return is important for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of securing honors this season.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two 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 past seven matches. 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 "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca commented: "Definitely the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has zero strikes and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After 13 matches in various cups no attacker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this campaign.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and players who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 appearances
A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the hoodoo. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no added burden."
