Delap Returns as The Blues Seek to Fix Forward Concerns
Forward Liam Delap is returning from a thigh problem at a time of need for Chelsea.
The Stamford Bridge outfit lost 2-1 against shock contenders Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with boss Enzo Maresca blaming "insufficient imagination" and his squad's passes being "below standard".
Chelsea's attackers are struggling for goals and assists as Delap returns in the Carabao Cup against struggling Wolves on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since sustaining the injury in the 2-0 win over Fulham in last month.
Maresca commented the emerging talent will be phased in "slowly", and the new recruit's return is vital for a team facing questions over their inconsistency, which has left the domestic cups their most realistic chance of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Take Pressure Off Joao Pedro
Chelsea acquired Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite pursuit by Manchester United, St James' Park side and Goodison Park team.
Yet the young English striker was second to £55 million acquisition Joao Pedro in the team ranking at this global competition - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro found the net three times in three outings as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the USA. The Seleção attacker added two more goals and three goal contributions in his initial four top-flight matches after arriving from Brighton.
More of late, however, Joao Pedro has failed to score in his past seven matches. Maresca said he is one of three squad members - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "handled carefully".
When asked about Joao Pedro's decline in performance, Maresca said: "For sure the fitness aspect is vital. When you are not at peak condition it's challenging to excel, especially in this competition."
"Joao Pedro is not a number nine that is going to score 20 goals annually. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to find the net and provide assists but he's a distinctive forward to those who net 20 to 25 goals every season like [Robert] Lewandowski, the French superstar or the Norwegian goal machine."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Attack
Chelsea deal with wider issues apart from their forwards and Joao Pedro's goalless run.
Forward Cole Palmer has featured for ninety minutes twice all term and is unlikely to be back from a lower body issue until December.
Wide player Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, brought in from Borussia Dortmund for a potential £52 million deal, has zero strikes and one assist in 10 matches. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40 million signing from Manchester United, has one score in seven outings and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, the teenager, has entertained since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and one assist - equaling youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who notched seven from left-back last campaign, is without a goal this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one score and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier got only one goal in the opening ten matches.
After thirteen games in every tournament no striker has more than two goals, with central players Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's equal leading marksmen with four strikes.
Queried whether a lack of natural goalscorers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca commented: "Certainly, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need six, seven, eight, nine, 10 goals each, in the fashion we managed last term."
Maresca has found ways to be competitive despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for free-kick and corner scores in the top flight, one less than Arsenal. In addition, the West London club are the pioneering side to have ten distinct net-finders in the top flight this term.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea followers think the number nine shirt - assigned to Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and squad members who wore it since 2006 have had goal droughts, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three goals in twenty-one matches
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - 15 scores in 58 appearances
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 goals in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five strikes in 19 appearances
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - twenty-four strikes in 72 games
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 appearances
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): 45 scores in 172 games
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in twenty-five matches
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A engine room operator and defender are included in this group, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while iconic forwards such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when questioned about the curse. "I don't believe [who believes in curses]," he stated at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a digit on the shirt of your shirt. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to forwards so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."
