Delap Returns as Chelsea Look to Address Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the EFL Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (evening kickoff), having sat out 10 fixtures since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the young striker will be slowly integrated "gradually", and the new recruit's comeback is important for a club facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite pursuit by the Red Devils, Newcastle United and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was behind £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his previous seven fixtures. 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 questioned about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to find the net and give assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea face broader problems beyond their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until the winter.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has zero strikes and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from left-back last term, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has above two scores, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the front, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to be competitive despite goal-scoring variability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the Premier League, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea fans think the center-forward number - taken by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been vacant since recently, and footballers who sported it since 2006 have struggled for goals, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- 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) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the number nine.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your kit. It's just a number that has always been related to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
