Delap Returns as Chelsea Seek to Fix Striker Issues
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit were beaten 2-1 against unexpected challengers Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with boss Enzo Maresca attributing "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the EFL Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since picking up the problem in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca said the 22-year-old will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the summer signing's return is important for a club facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of winning a trophy this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for a £30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, Newcastle United and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was below £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 outings as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the United States. The Seleção attacker scored another two and three setups in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "Definitely the physical part is crucial. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, notably in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Bayern legend, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has no goals and a single assist in ten appearances. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one goal in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one setup - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one score each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from defensive position last campaign, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his past two matches, but earlier got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in various cups no forward has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Queried whether a shortage of clinical finishers means responsibility must be shared, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In moreover, the Blues are the first team to have ten various goalscorers in the Premier League this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - assigned to Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been unoccupied since recently, and squad members who sported it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 games
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - a single strike in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in 20 games
A central player and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would argue Abraham broke the curse with his performance, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt 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 zero expectation."
