Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's strikers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on midweek (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since suffering the setback in the 2-0 win over Fulham in August.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "slowly", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a team facing scrutiny over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their primary hope of claiming silverware this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Tractor Boys for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated 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 queried about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. 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."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea confront additional challenges apart from their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and one goal contribution in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has merely two scores and one setup - matching academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last campaign, is still to score this campaign. Wide man Pedro Neto has a single strike and two assists in his last two games, but earlier got only one goal in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in various cups no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Certainly, 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 season."
Maresca has found ways to challenge despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In furthermore, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this campaign.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers think the striker's jersey - taken by Delap in the summer - is cursed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, 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) - thirty strikes in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 appearances
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - zero strikes in 20 appearances
A midfielder and defender are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unconcerned when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"At the end of the day it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
