Delap Makes Comeback as Chelsea Seek to Fix Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The West London club lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against lowly Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the summer signing's return is vital for a club facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their primary hope of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite interest from the Red Devils, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the America. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca remarked: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with broader problems in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since moving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last season, is without a goal this season. Attacking player Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Asked whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are runner-up in set-piece goals in the English top division, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the Premier League this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea supporters think the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is jinxed. It had been vacant since 2023, and players who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in 19 appearances
- 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 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"In the final analysis it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's zero expectation."
