Delap Back in Action as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "a lack of creativity" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the 22-year-old will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is important for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca commented: "For sure the fitness aspect is important. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face wider issues in addition to their attackers 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 the winter.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is still to score this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has over two strikes, 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: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the way we have done last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for free-kick and corner scores in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this season.
Is the Number Nine Hoodoo About to Lift?
Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who sported it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- 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 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A central player and defender are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
