Should Chelsea's attackers relieve their frustration? Liam Delap returns from injury

Oct 29, 2025

[London (UK) = Egan Sports Chosun.COM reporter] Chelsea striker Liam Delap returns from a hamstring injury. It's good news for Chelsea, who have been in a difficult state of attack in recent league and cup tournaments.

Delap missed 10 games after leaving Fulham in August due to injury and is set to return to action against Wolverhampton in the Carabao Cup on the 29th (local time).

Chelsea lost 2-1 at Sunderland at Stamford Bridge last weekend. Coach Enzo Maresca admitted that "there was a lack of creativity, and the quality of the cross was not good.' Despite huge investments during the summer transfer window, Chelsea have lost consistency in the league and face criticism that the only trophies they can aim for in reality are the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Chelsea acquired Delap from Ipswich Town for 30 million pounds (about 52 billion won) in the transfer window last summer. Manchester United, Newcastle, and Everton took notice, but Chelsea reached out first. Delap, however, did not immediately get the main job. Brazilian striker Joao Pedro, who was hired for £55 million at the Summer Club World Cup, was the starting one-top. At that time, João Pedro led Chelsea to victory with three goals in three games, and even after the opening of the Premier League, he played an active role with two goals and three assists in four games. Recently, however, João Pedro has been scoreless for the last seven games in a row. "Pedro, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo all need protection," Maresca said, referring to the physical burden. "Pedro is not the type of No. 9 who scores more than 20 goals every season. He explained that he is a different type of striker who is not a pure striker like Lebandowski, Mbappe and Holland. In the end, Delap's return is an opportunity to diversify offensive options while easing the burden on Pedro.

The lack of scoring is turning into a problem for Chelsea as a whole. Cole Palmer has played only two full games of the season and is expected to return in December due to a groin injury. Jamie Baino-Gittens, who was brought in from Borussia Dortmund for £52 million, has 0 goals and 1 assist in 10 games, Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United (seven games and one goal), and new Estebao Willian from Palmeiras (18 years old, two goals and one assist) all fell short of expectations. Pakundo Buonanote and 18-year-old striker Mark Gioui, who were loaned from Brighton, also scored one goal each. Even Mark Kukureya, who scored seven goals at left fullback last season, is still scoreless.

Currently, no one of the strikers has scored more than two goals, and midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Caicedo are tied for first in the team's goals with four goals each. In response, Maresca said, `The responsibility for scoring should be dispersed. Each of the front five should score 6 to 10 goals"He emphasized the importance of collective scoring."

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.