Delap Back in Action as Chelsea Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a muscle issue at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The West London club were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on the weekend, with head coach Enzo Maresca citing "limited inventiveness" and his team's delivery being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (evening kickoff), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the victory over Fulham in August.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's comeback is crucial for a team facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the national tournaments their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Championship side for £30m despite pursuit by Old Trafford club, the Magpies and Everton.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea secured the maiden title in the USA. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three assists in his initial four top-flight matches after moving from the Seagulls.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his last seven games. 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 questioned about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "Certainly the conditioning element is vital. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a distinctive forward to ones that score 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the City striker."
Broader Issues in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea confront broader problems beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until next month.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, signed from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and one goal contribution in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has a single strike in seven matches and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has shown promise since arriving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one setup - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from full-back last term, is yet to find the net this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his last two games, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After 13 matches in various cups no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four.
Queried whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the front five at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for dead-ball situations in the top flight, one behind Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers feel the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been vacant since recently, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 games
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - a single strike in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 goals in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 games
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A central player and backline player are included in this group, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his achievement, while legendary strikers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the jinx. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he commented at the Club World Cup.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your kit. It's just a number that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no pressure."
