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LIAM DELAP BACK, CHELSEA HOPE TO END FORWARD DILEMMA QUICKLY

Liam Delap returns from injury as Chelsea's attack struggles for goals. With Joao Pedro in a slump and no striker scoring consistently, Delap's comeback is a timely boost for Enzo Maresca.

Liam Delap Back, Chelsea Hope To End Forward Dilemma Quickly
Delap’s Return Brings Hope To Chelsea - | Credit: Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Manager Enzo Maresca at Stamford Bridge blamed his team's crossing being "not the best" and "a lack of inventiveness" for the Blues' 2-1 loss to surprise package Sunderland on Saturday.

Delap returns in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday (19:45 GMT), after missing 10 games since suffering the injury in the 2-0 victory over Fulham in August, but Chelsea's forwards are struggling for goals and assists.

The 22-year-old will be phased in "gradually," according to Maresca. The return of the summer acquisition is crucial for a team that has been criticised for its lack of consistency, which has made the domestic cups their best chance to win a trophy this season.

Despite interest from Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Everton, Chelsea paid £30 million to acquire Delap from Ipswich Town.

However, at this summer's Club World Cup, the England Under-21s forward was ranked lower than Joao Pedro, who cost £55 million, and for good cause.

Chelsea won the first competition in the United States thanks to three goals from Joao Pedro in three games. After signing from Brighton, the Brazilian striker added two more goals and three assists in his first four Premier League appearances.

Joao Pedro, on the other hand, has failed to score in his last seven games. According to Maresca, he is one of three players who require "protection" at the moment, along with midfielders Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

"The physical part is definitely crucial," Maresca remarked in response to a question concerning Joao Pedro's decline in form posed by BBC Sport. It is challenging to compete when you are not at your best, particularly in this league.

"Joao Pedro is not a number nine who will accomplish 20 goals a year. Joao is an excellent player who will score goals and provide assists, but he is not like the nine-to-ones who score twenty to twenty-five goals annually, such as [Robert] Lewandowski, [Kylian] Mbappe, or [Erling] Haaland."

Beyond its strikers and Joao Pedro's goalless streak, Chelsea has more serious problems.

Cole Palmer is not anticipated to return from a groin injury until December, despite having played two complete games this season.

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, a winger who cost £52 million to sign from Borussia Dortmund, has only contributed one assist and no goals in 10 games. The £40 million Manchester United acquisition, Alejandro Garnacho, has only scored once in seven games and forced an own goal against Benfica.

Since signing from Palmeiras for a reported £51 million, 18-year-old Estevao Willian has provided entertainment, but his two goals and one assist are equal to those of academy striker Tyrique George.

Facundo Buonanotte, on loan from Brighton, and striker Marc Guiu each have one goal.

Last season, Marc Cucurella scored seven goals from left-back, but he has not scored this year. Pedro Neto, a winger, had only scored once in his first ten games but has one goal and two assists in his last two games.

Midfielders Fernandez and Caicedo are Chelsea's equal leading scorers with four goals, while no striker has more than two goals after 13 games across all competitions.

When asked if sharing responsibility is necessary because there are any natural goal scorers, Maresca responded, "Yes, absolutely. As we did the previous season, we repeatedly stated that the five players at the front need to score six, seven, eight, nine, or ten goals apiece.

Maresca has managed to compete in spite of his inconsistent attacks. In the Premier League, Chelsea is one goal behind Arsenal in set-piece goals. The Blues are also the first team in the top flight this season to have ten different scorers.

WHY WAS COLE PALMER SUBBED? THE REAL REASON BEHIND THE STAMFORD BRIDGE BOOS

Fans booed as Cole Palmer was subbed in Chelsea's draw with Bournemouth. Learn why Maresca was absent and what’s next for the Blues.

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Managing Cole Palmer’s return

After Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth, assistant coach Willy Caballero defended the choice to sub off Cole Palmer, even though fans at Stamford Bridge were angry about Enzo Maresca's move.

Fans booed, yelling, You don't know what you're doing! when Palmer—who'd been one of the team's better players—was taken out in the 63rd minute. The home team was trying to score and break their bad Premier League streak at the time.

Chelsea has only won one of their last seven league games. Caballero said afterward that head coach Enzo Maresca, who wasn't there for the post-game interviews due to illness, is still a role model for everyone at the club.

Still, the pressure is on the coach after yet another result slipped away. Chelsea has now lost 13 points at home from winning positions.

The mood got especially sour when Palmer, who just came back from an injury, was taken off in the second half.

Every fan wants the best players on the field, Caballero said. We do, too. But Cole is coming back from a long injury. So we have to figure out the best substitutions to win the game while also keeping our players healthy. We need them for the entire season.

Caballero said about Maresca's absence, "He hasn't been feeling well for the past two days." He had a fever two days ago. He did the last two practices because he wanted to get the team ready. But after the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in because he wasn't feeling well.

He's handling it well and is very professional. He puts in a lot of hours every day, even when he wasn't feeling well the last two days. He loves to train and coach. He's a role model for me and the rest of the staff.

Bournemouth took the lead after six minutes when David Brooks scored on his second try after Robert Sanchez made a save. Then, Palmer scored a penalty to tie the game for Chelsea.

Next, Enzo Fernandez put the home team ahead, but the Blues couldn't hold on to their lead again. Justin Kluivert tied the score before halftime after Chelsea failed to handle a long throw-in from Antoine Semenyo.

There's been a lot of talk that this would be Semenyo's last game for Bournemouth before he moves to Manchester City soon. Before leaving the field, he seemed to say goodbye to the fans who had traveled to see the game.

Still, head coach Andoni Iraola was sure he'd play against Arsenal on Saturday.

It's not his last game here with us, he said. I can't say for sure, but I think he'll play.

He needs to rest. We've played two tough games in three days. We have Arsenal at home, so we're getting ready for another one, a tough game against the leaders. He's going to be important for us.

BREAKING: ENZO MARESCA SKIPS MEDIA AS CHELSEA CRISIS DEEPENS! GET THE HEALTH UPDATE

Enzo Maresca missed the post-match media due to a fever after Chelsea's 2-2 draw. Willy Caballero provides an urgent update on his health.

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Chelsea's winless run continues as Maresca falls ill

Enzo Maresca skipped media interviews after Chelsea's 2-2 tie with Bournemouth because he was sick.

The Blues coach was supposed to chat after his team snagged a point against Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.

But right before he was about to talk about the game, news dropped that Maresca wasn't feeling good.

So, his assistant, Willy Caballero, stepped in to handle things in west London.

Caballero shared an update on Maresca: He's been under the weather for a couple of days, Caballero said. He had a fever two days ago.

After the game, he went to the locker room and asked me to fill in for him since he wasn't feeling well.

Caballero was asked if he'd be in charge against Manchester City on Sunday, like he was against Villa during Maresca's suspension.

"I'm not sure," he said. I just want Enzo to get better. I think he'll be fine in a day or two.

The draw with Bournemouth means Chelsea has only won one of their last seven Premier League games.

Fans were clearly annoyed during the second half when Cole Palmer was subbed out for Joao Pedro.

Palmer just got back to playing regularly after a groin injury, but some Chelsea fans wondered why he was taken out.

About the boos, Caballero said, "Of course, every fan wants their best players on the field, and so do we."

But Cole is coming off a long injury, so we have to figure out the right subs for the game and also look out for our players since we didn't have him for a while.

Chelsea and Bournemouth had a boring 0-0 draw in their previous match earlier in the month.

But the game at Stamford Bridge was totally different, with Bournemouth taking the lead early on through David Brooks.

Palmer leveled the score with a penalty, and then Enzo Fernandez blasted a shot into the top corner to put Chelsea ahead.

But Chelsea failed to defend a long throw for the second time, allowing Justin Kluivert to score for Bournemouth.

After playing City, Chelsea will face their west London rivals Fulham before an FA Cup game away against Charlton Athletic.

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