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Tag: lampard

  • Lampard seeks improvement at Chelsea to make them title contenders

    Lampard seeks improvement at Chelsea to make them title contenders

    Chelsea boss Frank Lampard said he is pleased with the progress made by his team in the Premier League so far this season, but has called for further improvement in their quest to become genuine title contenders.

    The London side are fifth in the table with 25 points from 14 games, two points behind second-placed Leicester City ahead of Saturday’s trip to local rivals Arsenal who have slipped to 15th after a poor start.

    “I’m happy but we always want more as managers,” Lampard told Sky Sports on Thursday.

    “The reality is at the start of the season, we had some new players while others were missing, and we lacked a pre-season. Looking at our early results, we saw some good and some not-so-good performances.

    “We then went on a good run which saw a lot of improvement, so I’m pretty happy but we want more. We want to be challenging for titles, but we have to accept that it’s step by step. We’ve made some steps, but we have the potential to make a lot more.”

    Chelsea have lost their previous two away games – at Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers – and are hoping to avoid a third straight league defeat on the road for the first time since February last year.

    “This season has shown most teams have had difficult moments and a large part of that comes down to preparation.

    “Preparation for the season is something we didn’t have. We mustn’t get too far ahead of ourselves or too far down the line,” Lampard said.

    “We have to think of the short-term and the games in front of us and not be reactionary after defeats last week or even wins and our unbeaten run.

    “It’s about making continual improvement and that’s important for focus.”

  • Chelsea ready to sell seven first-team players in 2021

    Chelsea ready to sell seven first-team players in 2021

    Premier League side Chelsea are ready to sell as many as seven first teamers in 2021.

    A number of players are currently surplus to requirements within Frank Lampard’s squad and chief negotiator Marina Granovskaia will be hoping to find buyers as the Blues’ rebuild continues.

    Antonio Rudiger, Andres Christensen, Jorginho, Marcos Alonso, Ross Barkley, Danny Drinkwater and Victor Moses are all set to be moved on according to Sky Sports Italia journalist Angelo Mangiante.

    Barkley is currently at Aston Villa, while Moses made the temporary switch to Spartak Moscow earlier this season.

    Drinkwater remains at the club but saw his squad number given to Thiago Silva.

  • Lampard admits ‘tension’ at Chelsea before West Ham win

    Lampard admits ‘tension’ at Chelsea before West Ham win

    Frank Lampard admits there was ‘tension’ at Chelsea heading into Monday’s clash with West Ham United.

    The Blues entered the match with two consecutive losses to Wolves and Everton.

    And Lampard was delighted after his players responded with a 3-0 win over the Hammers.

    “This season is looking different to every other season,” he said. “It is hard at a club with expectations that we have and the squad we have.

    “If you are winning, or are unbeaten for a long time, then things move swimmingly well. It is much easier to manage, and you get a few challenges when you lose a couple of games.

    “It is hard; I have to be the one that drives it. There was a bit of tension going into the game, in a good way. The players were like that and you have to fight through it.

    “When you come off it slightly, there is no easy way back other than a bit of graft. We showed that tonight without being beautiful.

    “It will help confidence. As a squad, I thought it would be tough for us as we have to grow a bit of character in games.

    “We suffered at Wolves, we should have dealt with that game, and today we dealt with a game that was potentially very tough.”

  • Ancelotti outwits former player Lampard as Everton down Chelsea

    Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti outwitted his former player Frank Lampard as his side put on a superbly organised performance to beat visitors Chelsea 1-0 in their English Premier League clash on Saturday.

    Ancelotti’s side were happy to let their visitors have the ball but allowed them precious little in the way of goal-scoring chances.

    They snuffed out Chelsea’s high-priced attack in a disciplined defensive display in front of 2,000 fans.

    “I am really pleased, in front of our supporters. We are really happy for them. They have seen a good match from Everton. We played well with fantastic spirit,” Ancelotti said.

    “Defensively we did really well. The team sacrificed. That was the target, because against the tough teams like Chelsea you have to sacrifice.

    “We were dangerous on the counter and we didn’t concede many opportunities. We deserved to win.”

    Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin was upended by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, and Gylfi Sigurdsson dispatched the resulting penalty kick for the only goal of the game.

    But Lampard declined to blame his goalkeeper.

    “I don’t think Mendy was just culpable. But he has been outstanding so far. So, I will take that.

    “When teams play long with one of the best strikers in the league, you have to suffer the moments and get through,” Lampard said.

    Though his side remain third in the table, the former Chelsea midfielder dismissed suggestions that they were title challengers alongside leaders Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool.

    “You have to look at the teams winning it the last three or fours years — they have wingers, strikers scoring 30, 40 goals and winners of Premier League and Champions League,” he said.

    “Coming here to this place, they (Everton) were up for a result and we did not pass the test. We will in the future.”

  • Lampard hails Cech influence on Chelsea summer transfer success

    Lampard hails Cech influence on Chelsea summer transfer success

    Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has paid tribute to football chief Petr Cech for his work in the market this year.

    Lampard praised his relationship with former team-mate and Chelsea. performance director Cech, who has helped to build a rejuvenated Blues squad following £253million worth of investment this summer.

    The Chelsea manager said: “That will only ever be decided by the owner and the only thing I can do is look at what’s in front of me and at that minute. Since I came in here, the relationship I have with Petr Cech has been a huge strength for me. I get on so well with him and, hopefully, we work well together.

    “I said before I would love to do this job as long as possible but I’m also very aware it will be based on results. At the minute, I think we’re working towards something and people are getting very excited and mentioning us being in a title race this year.

    “I always saw it as a longer plan than that and it might take until next year for us to really challenge, because of the signings, because of the bedding-in process. What we’re doing at the moment, it’s really getting people excited, but I know we need to be consistent throughout the season.”

  • I won’t give Giroud playing assurances – Lampard

    I won’t give Giroud playing assurances – Lampard

    Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has refused to offer playing assurances to Olivier Giroud.

    Giroud scored four goals in the midweek Champions League defeat of Sevilla, but could still be on the bench against Leeds United.

    Lampard said, “With Giroud, it’s not a case of giving any player assurances over game time because with a competitive squad like ours, that’s very difficult to do.

    “All you want is for players, when they’re out of the team, to train well, get themselves in the team and perform like Oli did the other day because then that gives me nice problems. I’m happy with him – his form is good and he’s training well.

    “In that forward area, I have competition for places. Tammy Abraham has been playing very well for us this season, scoring goals and making assists. I never see anything negative from Oli and I have huge respect for him. If he plays like he did against Sevilla, clearly he will get more opportunities to play because that was just a top-class performance.”

  • Beat Tottenham for Abramovich, Lampard tells Chelsea players

    Chelsea boss Frank Lampard wants to beat Tottenham for club owner Roman Abramovich.

    Lampard paid tribute to Abramovich as the Russian billionaire prepares for his 1,000th game as owner of Chelsea.

    “As a manager and a player who was involved in a lot of those games I can give him nothing but a huge thank you,” said Lampard, who returned last year as head coach.

    “Nothing we have achieved in the Roman Abramovich era could have been achieved without him or his support.

    “Firstly, a financial input but also the development of the training ground and also the love and time put into the academy. And the trophies we have been able to win have been made possible because of him.

    “We are thankful and our end of the bargain is to remain successful on the pitch.

    “The special message from us will be to go out and win the game. That will be the best message back to Roman for a very special landmark.”

  • I report to Abramovich after every game, Lampard reveals

    I report to Abramovich after every game, Lampard reveals

    Chelsea manager Frank Lampard admits he has little to do with owner Roman Abramovich.

    The Russian owner has been a distant figure at Stamford Bridge in recent years after problems with the UK government over his visa.

    Lampard tells The Athletic that Abramovich was “very visible at the training ground in the early years”, but that it was director Marina Granovskaia who he held talks with on his return as manager last year, not the owner.

    “When I came back to the club, no; it was Marina (Granovskaia, the director), who contacted Derby and then myself to make that happen,” he said.

    “I saw Roman on pre-season last year and it was big smiles and not cuddles but welcomes and handshakes.”

    Lampard still reports back to Abramovich after games and insists he is honest in his feedback, even after a poor performance or result.

    “From then, I haven’t had a close, close relationship with him, albeit I report back my thoughts on games, on where I see us and where I see us moving forward consistently through Marina and I’m very happy with that.

    “I would say the relationship is close without being practically close day-to-day or week-to-week. I feel the support from afar, but it’s very straight, very cut-and-dried and that’s how I try to give it back.

    “If I’m commenting on how we’re playing or performing, I don’t beat around the bush. Whether good or bad, I think that’s the right policy with a man of that level.”

  • Giroud sends message to Lampard after Rennes winner

    Giroud sends message to Lampard after Rennes winner

    Olivier Giroud says he will continue to deliver when called upon by Chelsea manager Frank Lampard.

    The Frenchman has hardly played this season due to the performances of Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner.

    But the veteran striker came off the bench to score a late winner against Rennes on Tuesday, booking Chelsea’s place in the Champions League knockout rounds.

    “We must continue this good run, we won tonight, even if it was with difficulty,” Giroud told RMC Sport.

    “Obviously for an attacker when the coach brings you on you have to bring something, now I am staying concentrated on what I have to do.

    “When he calls on me, I do the job, nothing more.”

  • I want Giroud to stay – Lampard

    I want Giroud to stay – Lampard

    Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has declared he wants Olivier Giroudb to see out the season.

    Giroud’s agent has warned that the World Cup winner will leave the club if the situation does not change, but Lampard says he has a “good relationship” with 34-year-old.

    “I want Oli [Giroud] to stay,” said Lampard.

    “He is very important to me and I know what he has to offer. I know he wants to play but he always trains brilliantly, no matter what.

    “I saw those quotes from his agent but they didn’t surprise me. I know Oli and we talk all the time.”