Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Striker Liam Delap is returning from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap makes his comeback in the League Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's return is crucial for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Championship side for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward notched additional strikes and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
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 hard to perform, particularly in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a excellent footballer, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront additional challenges beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Attacker Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not expected return from a lower body issue until the winter.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and one assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one setup - paralleling academy forward 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 term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his previous two fixtures, but before that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in every tournament no forward has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four strikes.
Asked whether a lack of natural goalscorers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca stated: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the front five at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has developed approaches to compete despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - thirty strikes in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- 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) - zero strikes in twenty matches
A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unfazed when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"At the end of the day 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 zero expectation."
