Delap Returns as The Blues Look to Address Attacking Problems
Striker Liam Delap is recovering from a thigh problem at a crucial moment for Chelsea.
The Blues lost 2-1 against surprise package Sunderland at their home ground on recently, with head coach 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 EFL Cup against lowly Wolves on this week (19:45 GMT), having missed 10 games since picking up the problem in the success over Fulham in last month.
Maresca stated the emerging talent will be slowly integrated "slowly", and the summer signing's return is important for a side facing criticism over their unpredictability, which has left the cup competitions their best opportunity of securing honors this campaign.
Delap to Ease Burden On Joao Pedro
Chelsea brought in Delap from the Tractor Boys for £30m despite interest from Manchester United, the Magpies and the Toffees.
Yet the England Under-21s forward was second to £55m signing Joao Pedro in the selection hierarchy at this summer's Club World Cup - and with good reason.
Joao Pedro scored three goals in three matches as Chelsea claimed the first edition in the United States. The Brazilian forward scored another two and three setups in his opening quartet of league fixtures after joining from Brighton.
More recently, however, Joao Pedro has not scored in his previous seven fixtures. Maresca revealed he is one of a trio of players - along with central players Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo - who at the moment demand to be "shielded".
When questioned about Joao Pedro's dip in form, Maresca said: "Definitely the physical part is vital. When you are not 100% it's challenging to excel, particularly in this league."
"Joao Pedro is not a traditional striker that is going to reach twenty strikes every season. Joao's a fantastic player, he's going to score and create chances but he's a different kind of nine to players who get 20 to 25 goals every season like the Polish striker, [Kylian] Mbappe or the City striker."
Wider Problems in Chelsea's Offense
Chelsea face additional challenges in addition to their strikers and Joao Pedro's scoreless streak.
Winger Cole Palmer has completed two games all campaign and is not anticipated to feature from a lower body issue until the winter.
Winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, acquired from Borussia Dortmund for a fee rising to £52m, has failed to score and a single assist in ten games. Alejandro Garnacho, a £40m recruit from Manchester United, has one score in seven games and caused an own goal against Benfica.
Estevao Willian, eighteen, has impressed since joining from Palmeiras for a £51m package, but has only two goals and a single assist - matching youth product Tyrique George.
Attacker Marc Guiu and loan signing Facundo Buonanotte have a single strike apiece.
Marc Cucurella, who scored seven from defensive position last term, is still to score this term. Winger Pedro Neto has one goal and two assists in his previous two fixtures, but earlier found the net just once in the first 10 games.
After thirteen games in various cups no attacker has over two strikes, with midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo Chelsea's shared top goalscorers with four strikes.
Questioned whether a absence of prolific strikers means goals must come from multiple sources, Maresca said: "Absolutely, yes. We repeatedly stated that the quintet of attackers at the offense, we need multiple goals per player, in the way we have done last season."
Maresca has found ways to compete despite attacking inconsistency. Chelsea are second for dead-ball situations in the top flight, trailing by one Arsenal. In addition, the Stamford Bridge side are the initial club to have 10 different scorers in the top flight this season.
Will Chelsea's Number Nine Curse Be Broken?
Some Chelsea supporters think the center-forward number - claimed by Delap in the summer - is hexed. It had been available since last year, and footballers who donned it since 2006 have found scoring difficult, including:
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2022-23) - three strikes in 21 games
- Romelu Lukaku (2021-22) - fifteen strikes in fifty-eight matches
- Tammy Abraham (2019-20, 2021-22) - 30 scores in eighty-two matches
- Gonzalo Higuain (2018-19) - five scores in nineteen matches
- Alvaro Morata (2017-18) - 24 scores in seventy-two matches
- Radamel Falcao (2015-16) - one goal in 12 games
- Fernando Torres (2010-11, 2014-15): forty-five strikes in one hundred seventy-two matches
- Franco di Santo (2008-10) - failed to score in 16 appearances
- Steve Sidwell (2007-08) - one score in 25 games
- Khalid Boulahrouz (2006-07) - no goals in 20 appearances
A midfielder and backline player are among those listed, and some would argue Abraham lifted the hoodoo with his achievement, while famous attackers such as Peter Osgood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink thrived with nine on their back.
But Delap was unmoved when asked about the curse. "I'm not one [who believes in curses]," he said at the international tournament.
"Ultimately it's a figure on the jersey of your kit. It's just a figure that has traditionally been associated to attackers so it's something that I appreciate and there's no pressure."