TheNewsGuru

Tag: lampard

  • Lampard reveals Chelsea transfer targets

    Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says the club have a number of different transfer action plans to work on depending on how the market is affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

    The Premier League summer transfer window was set to open on June 10, but ongoing disruption and uncertainty means previous deadlines may not be met .

    Lampard says he is happy with the players he has but with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Moussa Dembele and Declan Rice linked, Blues fans may be expecting action.

    “We have the good young players, we have had experienced players around them that have helped them this year, but we know there are little areas within the squad [we can improve],” Lampard told Sky Sports .

    “Some of that’s what we have already, some of that’s how we might look to recruit going forward.

    “This period now with what’s going on in the world has made it very difficult to plan too much on [transfers], how this is going to look in weeks or months going forward.

    “We have to have different versions of plans going forward in terms of how it looks.”

  • Lampard told best position to play Kante

    Former Chelsea star, Gus Poyet, has urged manager, Frank Lampard to play midfielder, N’Golo Kante, in a central midfield position.

    Much was made of the decision by former Chelsea manager, Maurizio Sarri, to play Jorginho at the base of the club’s midfield, which pushed Kante into a more advanced box-to-box role.

    Lampard, who was expected to reinstate Kante to his favoured defensive central midfield, said the France star is just too good to sit and defend in the midfield.

    But Poyet feels Kante is still being played out of position by Lampard, adding that the former Leicester City star is a unique player.

    “In very important games, Lampard went with Kante, Jorginho, and Kovacic until the last month with injuries,” Poyet told Goal.

    “Those are the three most experienced players who played under Sarri, but now they play with more freedom, especially in Jorginho having more possibilities to move around to go sideways and forward.

    “Last year, he was very static. There are plenty of options. In Kante’s first year, he came to Chelsea, and I made it public that he is the best central midfielder in the world.

    “After a previous season as a number eight in that different position, we lost how important and unique he was as a player.

    “I hope he can get back to that. In his best position, he is unique, and there are not many players that can give you what he can do right now.”

  • Lampard bemoans Chelsea’s injury crisis ahead of Liverpool clash

    Chelsea’s progress has been severely dented this season due to a number of injury setbacks, manager Frank Lampard said on Monday.

    Lampard said several senior players would be unavailable for Tuesday’s FA Cup fifth round clash with Liverpool as a result of this.

    Players such as influential midfielder N’Golo Kante have had a stop-start campaign while others like Antonio Rudiger have either returned from injury recently or been sidelined like winger Christian Pulisic.

    “There were a few (injuries) overlapping from last year, which were huge: N’Golo Kante, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Antonio Rudiger.

    “It’s been an issue and now we have another bulk,” Lampard told reporters when asked why Chelsea have struggled.

    “There are no fresh returns from the injury list. Andreas Christensen has got a small issue which we are going to give another 24 hours, but probably puts him in out of the game.

    “Other than that we have no Tammy Abraham, no Pulisic, no Hudson-Odoi and no Kante.”

    Abraham, who is the club’s leading goal scorer this season with 15 goals in all competitions, suffered an ankle injury, with Lampard having no update on his return to the side.

    “(Abraham) went to Barcelona to get another set of eyes on it,” Lampard added. “He came back relatively positive.

    “Unfortunately, he’s a bit unwell at the moment. So, he’s been off for a couple of days with a bit of a bug. There’s no update, no idea when he’ll be back.

    “Christian has had a big phase out and is desperate to get back. When (they can return) I’m not giving an answer… I can’t see the answer.

    “I’m hoping they might be fit over the next week or two, I just can’t say it with clarity.”

    English Premier League (EPL) leaders Liverpool lost their first league game of the season at Watford over the weekend.

    Even though Lampard believes it proved they were vulnerable, he said they have still had an “incredible season”.

    “They’ve become relatively human. But it’s one game,” Lampard said. “They’re a strong team and they’ve been out on their own this season.

    “We will have to be at our best. I don’t mind playing midweek. The FA Cup is a huge competition. Evening games bring a different atmosphere and playing Liverpool is always big for us.”

  • VAR decisions ‘soul destroying’ – Lampard

    VAR decisions ‘soul destroying’ – Lampard

    The video assistant referee “didn’t get it right” in Chelsea’s 2-0 home loss to Manchester United and it was “soul destroying” for the supporters, says Blues boss Frank Lampard.

    VAR official Chris Kavanagh did not feel Harry Maguire deserved a red card for appearing to kick Michy Batshuayi.

    Kavanagh also ruled out two Chelsea goals – one for a push in the box and the other for offside.

    Hundreds of home fans left Stamford Bridge with more than 10 minutes left.

    Headers from Anthony Martial and Maguire secured a first league double over Chelsea for Manchester United since the 1987-88 season.

    Chelsea became only the second team to have two goals awarded on the field but then ruled out by VAR in the same Premier League game, after Sheffield United against Brighton in December.

  • Victor Moses ‘is coming back’ to Chelsea – Lampard

    Victor Moses ‘is coming back’ to Chelsea – Lampard

    Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that Nigerian star Victor Moses will return to the Stamford Bridge at the end of his one-year loan deal.

    Lampard said this on Monday night in a press conference ahead of the Blues tie with Arsenal in spite of reports that the former Wigan man is close to joining Inter Milan.

    According to Lampard: “Victor Moses is coming back from his loan with a view to going elsewhere and those talks are ongoing as well,” Lampard was quoted by Chelsea official website as saying on Monday.”

    The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner is on loan to Fenerbahce from Chelsea and is recovering from injury. His present contract with the London side expires in June 2021.

  • Lampard under pressure after home defeat to Saints

    Chelsea lost consecutive home league games for the first time since 2011 as Southampton earned a key 2-0 win in their fight against relegation at Stamford Bridge.

    The home side never got going during the opening 45 minutes and Michael Obafemi’s superbly taken strike from 18 yards gave Saints a deserved lead.

    The introduction of Mason Mount for defender Kurt Zouma at the break threatened to inject energy into Frank Lampard’s side but only a vital Fikayo Tomori intervention prevented the away side a second.

    And with 20 minutes remaining, a superb team move saw the ball break for Nathan Redmond and his simple finish from 10 yards wrapped up six points for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side from festive away games at Aston Villa and the Blues.

  • I hope to assist Lampard at Chelsea when I retire – Mikel

    I hope to assist Lampard at Chelsea when I retire – Mikel

    Former Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel wouldn’t mind being Frank Lampard’s assistant at Chelsea when he retires.

    Both Mikel and Lampard were teammates at the Stamford Bridge for close to a decade winning several trophies together.

    “I am very happy for Frank. When we were playing at Chelsea, we were expecting that John Terry and him would be very good managers, but we were expecting Terry to reach that level first. But Lampard made a big step. His arrival at Chelsea means the club are caring for their legends,” Mikel told Sport Witness.

    “I joked with him after he got the Chelsea’s job that I want to be his assistant when I retire. I hope he will be successful at Chelsea for many more years. I also want to see John Terry in similar jobs in future because he was our leader on the pitch,” Mikel added.

  • Chelsea given permission for Lampard talks

    Chelsea given permission for Lampard talks

    Chelsea have been given permission to speak to Derby boss Frank Lampard about their vacant manager’s job.

    Lampard, 41, spent 13 years as a Chelsea player and would replace Maurizio Sarri, who has joined Juventus after one season at Stamford Bridge.

    The Blues would have to pay the Rams about £4m if they appoint Lampard.

    “With pre-season fast approaching for both clubs it is hoped this will allow Chelsea to swiftly conclude their discussions,” a Derby statement read.

    “The club will make no further comment until it is appropriate to do so.”

    Lampard embarked on his first campaign as a manager last season, leading the Rams to the Championship play-off final where they lost to Aston Villa.

    The former England midfielder made 648 Chelsea appearances, winning 11 major trophies.

    If he does take over, he will inherit a transfer embargo after Chelsea were given a two-window transfer ban by world governing body Fifa – a decision the club are appealing against at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

    BBC

  • EPL: Chelsea in final talk with Lampard to replace Sarri

    Chelsea has made a move with the club former midfielder, Frank Lampard, over the chance of replacing Maurizio Sarri.

    Sarri, who ended third in the Premier League table and won the Europa League, is ready to sign for the Italian giants, Juventus.

    However, Max Allegri, who might be succeeded by Sarri in Turin, was the early choice to coach at the Stamford Bridge.

    The 51-year-old is likely to undertake a sabbatical forcing Chelsea to pursue alternative options to replace the Italian international.

    Also, Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez, Ajax’s Erik ten Hag, Watford’s Javi Gracia have also been linked with the Stamford Bridge job, but Lampard is believed to top the list of coaches.

    Meanwhile, Chelsea is said to be in doubts over Lampard’s competency, given that his lack of managerial experience, with just one season at Derby under his watch, is not enough.

    Recall that the 40-year-old narrowly missed out on promotion, losing in the play-off final to Aston Villa.

  • Lampard hails ‘monster’ Drogba as Chelsea legend hangs boot

    Frank Lampard has said that Didier Drogba was a “monster in the dressing room” who won countless big games for Chelsea.

    On Wednesday, Drogba confirmed he would retire from the game at the age of 40 following a professional career spanning two decades, the peak years of which the Ivorian spent at Stamford Bridge.

    In nine seasons across two spells, Drogba won a dozen major honours, including four Premier League titles and a famous Champions League triumph in 2012.

    And Lampard, a key figure alongside the striker in the most successful era in Chelsea’s history, paid a glowing tribute to his former team-mate.

    “I get asked a lot who are the greatest players you played with. One retired relatively recently in John Terry, and the other is Didier Drogba,” Derby County manager Lampard told a news conference.

    “He is the most incredible player. He’s a monster in the dressing room.

    “He won Chelsea countless titles, finals, semi-finals. He always turned up on the big occasion. He should be so proud of his career.

    “On top of that he is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, men that I have played with. He is a friend, unselfish, humble, tough…I could speak all day about Didier Drogba.”