Delap Returns as The Blues Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a hamstring injury at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on Saturday, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "limited inventiveness" and his side's crossing being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are finding it hard to score and assists as Delap makes his comeback in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on midweek (19:45 GMT), having been absent for 10 matches since suffering the setback in the victory over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the young striker will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the recent acquisition's comeback is vital for a club facing criticism over their inconsistency, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of claiming silverware this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for thirty million pounds despite interest from Manchester United, St James' Park side and the Toffees.
Yet the Three Lions prospect was below expensive recruit Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this recent international tournament - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the USA. The Seleção attacker notched additional strikes and three assists in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More lately, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his last seven games. Maresca stated he is one of three players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who currently need to be "protected".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "Certainly the physical part is important. When you are not 100% it's hard to perform, especially in this division."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals each year. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and give assists 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 deal with wider issues in addition to their attackers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Forward Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is unlikely to be back from a groin problem until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one goal in seven outings and induced an opposition error against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, 18, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has merely two scores and one assist - paralleling academy forward Tyrique George.
Striker Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last season, is still to score this campaign. Winger Pedro Neto has a single strike and two setups in his previous two fixtures, but earlier scored only once in the initial ten fixtures.
After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has above two scores, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a shortage of clinical finishers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We said many times that the front five at the attack, we need multiple goals per player, in the manner we achieved last season."
Maresca has developed approaches to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the English top division, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Blues are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this term.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea fans think the striker's jersey - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been vacant since last year, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in 82 games
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 appearances
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are part of this selection, and some would contend Abraham ended the jinx with his record, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink excelled with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the hoodoo. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"In the final analysis it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has historically been connected to forwards so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
