Delap Returns as Stamford Bridge Side Look to Address Forward Concerns
Attacker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a important period for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his side's crossing being "not the best".
Chelsea's forwards are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on this week (prime time), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "carefully", and the recent acquisition's availability is vital for a side facing criticism over their mixed results, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this season.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite pursuit by the Red Devils, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro registered a trio of strikes in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has been goalless in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Certainly the conditioning element is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's difficult to compete, particularly in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a classic center-forward that is going to net twenty times every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a alternative type of striker to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe or [Erling] Haaland."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Forward Line
Chelsea confront additional challenges in addition to their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a groin problem until next month.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a £52m package, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has shown promise since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to £51m, but has just two strikes and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Wide man Pedro Neto has one score and two setups in his past two matches, but before that scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After 13 matches in every tournament no attacker has over two strikes, with engine room operators Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We frequently mentioned that the quintet of attackers at the attack, we need numerous strikes from each, in the manner we achieved last campaign."
Maresca has discovered methods to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the Premier League, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the first division this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers feel the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the off-season - is hexed. It had been vacant since recently, and footballers who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - a trio of scores in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in twelve matches
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unconcerned when queried about the jinx. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he stated at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a digit that has always been related to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
