Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and key passes as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on midweek (prime time), having been absent for 10 matches since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the 22-year-old will be phased in "slowly", and the recent acquisition's return is important for a team facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Everton.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to ÂŁ55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker scored another two and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "shielded".
When asked about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Certainly the fitness aspect is important. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals every season. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with additional challenges apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to ÂŁ52m, has failed to score and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a ÂŁ40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to ÂŁ51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last season, is without a goal this season. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but prior to that found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen fixtures in every tournament no forward has more than two goals, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's joint top scorers with four.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans believe the number nine shirt - taken by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since last year, and players who sported it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one score in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A central player and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your uniform. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
