Delap Makes Comeback as Stamford Bridge Side Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Attacker Liam Delap is returning from a hamstring injury at a important period for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit suffered a 2-1 defeat against unexpected challengers Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "a lack of creativity" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's forwards are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in the summer.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "carefully", and the summer signing's return is important for a club facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the national tournaments their most realistic chance of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea signed Delap from the Championship side for a ÂŁ30 million fee despite pursuit by Manchester United, the Magpies and Goodison Park team.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was second to expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this summer's Club World Cup - and with valid cause.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three appearances as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the America. The Brazil striker added two more goals and three setups in his first four Premier League games after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca revealed he is one of three players - along with engine room operators Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "handled carefully".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca remarked: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's difficult to compete, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to net twenty times annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to get goals and create chances but he's a alternative type of striker to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, the PSG forward or the Norwegian goal machine."
Additional Concerns in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with wider issues beyond their strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all season and is not expected return from a lower body issue until December.
Attacking midfielder Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to ÂŁ52m, has zero strikes and a single assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a ÂŁ40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has entertained since moving from Palmeiras for a fee rising to ÂŁ51m, but has only two goals and a single assist - equaling homegrown talent Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have one goal each.
Marc Cucurella, who got seven from left-back last season, is yet to find the net this season. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that found the net just once in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four goals.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Definitely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the five players at the offense, we need numerous strikes from each, in the fashion we managed last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In furthermore, the Blues are the first team to have 10 different scorers in the Premier League this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers believe the striker's jersey - claimed by Delap in the transfer window - is cursed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 appearances
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in 82 appearances
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals 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 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - no goals in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in twenty matches
A midfielder and backline player are included in this group, and some would contend 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 unfazed when asked about the curse. "I'm not the type of person [who believes in curses]," he said at the Club World Cup.
"At the end of the day it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a digit that has historically been connected to attackers so it's something that I like and there's no pressure."
