Chelsea have suffered as many defeats in their past six Premier League games as they did in the preceding 23 matches.
A thoroughly ugly and abysmal 90 minutes that brought their recent decline in form into even sharper focus and more scrutiny for Frank Lampard who was recently given a vote of confidence by the Chelsea board.
Four defeats and one draw from their past six league games leave Chelsea in eighth place.
Admittedly, Chelsea are only three points behind Tottenham in fourth having played a game more, but with results, performances and morale on a steep downward trajectory.
When he (Lampard ) was a player at Chelsea, a succession of managers bit the dust and carried all the responsibility when crises came, often amid talk of the influence of a powerful Stamford Bridge dressing room.
He has tried to manage expectations this season and he deserved full credit for putting Chelsea in the top four last season after assuming control with the club operating under a transfer embargo.
The form of the two Germany internationals - Werner and Havertz- will increase the pressure on Lampard. The quicker he can get a tune out of two undoubtedly fine talents the sooner he can pull Chelsea out of a troubling slump.
Despite their miserable form, there is still not a huge gap between Chelsea and top four, and a place in this season's Champions League last 16 has already been secured - although if they perform in this manner Atletico Madrid will make painfully short work of them.
Lampard's defence will be that he needs time to shape a new squad. What he actually needs are results and his big summer signings to start justifying Abramovich's hefty financial backing. And he needs both quickly.
Lampard knows the rules at Chelsea as he lived with them long enough.
No comments:
Post a Comment