Delap Back in Action as The Blues Aim to Solve Attacking Problems
Forward Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Blues were beaten 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their stadium on the weekend, with manager Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his team's delivery being "subpar".
Chelsea's attackers are having difficulty finding the net and goal contributions as Delap is back available in the Carabao Cup against bottom-half Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having sat out 10 fixtures since suffering the setback in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be gradually introduced "gradually", and the summer signing's availability is crucial for a side facing questions over their mixed results, which has left the domestic cups their best opportunity of winning a trophy this term.
Delap to Share Load With Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite attention from Old Trafford club, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was below £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the pecking order at this global competition - and with solid justification.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three matches as Chelsea won the inaugural tournament in the America. The Brazilian forward added two more goals and three goal contributions in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his last seven games. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who presently require to be "handled carefully".
When queried about Joao Pedro's drop in output, Maresca commented: "For sure the physical part is crucial. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, notably in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to reach twenty strikes each year. Joao's a superb talent, he's going to get goals and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to players who get 20 to 25 goals each year like the Polish striker, the French superstar or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea deal with additional challenges beyond their forwards and Joao Pedro's drought.
Attacker Cole Palmer has played two full matches all term and is unlikely to be back from a groin injury until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has no goals and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m acquisition from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since arriving from Palmeiras for a potential £51 million deal, but has merely two scores and a single assist - equaling academy forward Tyrique George.
Forward Marc Guiu and Seagulls temporary 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. Wide man Pedro Neto has one goal and two goal contributions in his past two matches, but prior to that got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in all competitions no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four.
Asked whether a absence of prolific strikers means duties need distributing, Maresca stated: "Certainly, yes. We frequently mentioned that the five players at the front, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last term."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite offensive unpredictability. Chelsea are second place for set-piece goals in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the first team to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this season.
Can Chelsea's Striker Jinx End?
Some Chelsea followers think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is jinxed. It had been available since 2023, and squad members who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 goals in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five goals in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 goals in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - zero strikes in sixteen matches
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one goal in 25 appearances
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - failed to score in twenty matches
A engine room operator and defensive specialist are among those listed, and some would suggest Abraham ended the jinx with his performance, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink flourished with the striker's jersey.
But Delap was unfazed when questioned about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he stated at the global competition.
"Ultimately it's a number on the back of your shirt. It's just a digit that has traditionally been associated to strikers so it's something that I enjoy and there's no added burden."
