Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is coming back from a hamstring injury at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with boss Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap returns in the EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a side facing scrutiny over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the young English striker was behind £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless 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 asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Definitely the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with additional challenges in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's drought.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is not anticipated to feature from a groin injury until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from defensive position last season, is yet to find the net this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his last two games, but earlier found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen fixtures in all competitions no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans feel the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been unoccupied since 2023, and players who sported it since the mid-2000s have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes 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) - failed to score in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your uniform. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I like and there's no added burden."
