NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag Frank Lampard

  • Mar, Mon, 2020
Sport

Lampard bemoans Chelsea’s injury crisis ahead of FA Cup tie against Liverpool

Crisis
London, March 2, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) 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.”(Reuters/NAN)
OLAL
======

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Lampard earns first win as Chelsea boss at Norwich City

Lampard earns first win as Chelsea boss at Norwich City

Norwich (England), Aug. 24, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Frank Lampard celebrated his first victory as Chelsea manager with Tammy Abraham’s double, inspiring their 3-2 win over Norwich City in a pulsating Premier League encounter at Carrow Road on Saturday.

The 21-year-old Abraham struck on the half-volley in the third minute and, after a see-saw contest in which Norwich twice fought back from a goal down, he proved the match-winner with another superb strike in the 68th minute.

Teemu Pukki continued his dazzling start to the season by netting a league-leading fifth goal for the Canaries.

However, it was to prove in vain as the victory provided much-needed relief for Lampard, one of Chelsea’s greatest players.

Lampard finally got off the mark at the fourth attempt after a loss at Manchester United, defeat to Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup and a draw with Leicester City.

Chelsea took the lead early when an overlapping Cesar Azpilicueta drifted a perfect cross from the right to the feet of the unmarked Abraham, who slotted the ball past goalkeeper Tim Krul.

Norwich struck back quickly, with Emiliano Buendia finding Pukki, who squared from near the left post for 21-year-old midfielder Todd Cantwell to score from close range.

Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount made it 2-1 with a fine 17th-minute goal.

But 13 minutes later, Buendia’s fine through ball put in the prolific Finn Pukki, who beat Kepa Arrizabalaga from a tight angle despite the Chelsea keeper getting a hand to the ball.

Chelsea looked more assured after the break and their pressure told.

Mateo Kovacic found Abraham, who rounded two Norwich defenders before firing home the winner from outside the box. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/SN

======

Edited by Silas Nwoha

Sport

Ndidi stars as Leicester City hold Chelsea 1-1 in Lampard’s first home match

EPL

London, Aug. 18, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Chelsea manager Frank Lampard had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Leicester City in his first home match in charge on Sunday.

A second-half header by Wilfred Ndidi cancelled out Mason Mount’s early goal on Lampard’s home debut.

Chelsea raced into a quick lead when the 20-year-old player stole the ball from a dallying Ndidi and left Kasper Schmeichel with no chance with his shot in the seventh minute.

The goal capped an opening onslaught by the new-look Blues who were roared on by the home fans excited at the return of Chelsea’s all-time top scorer Lampard as manager.

But Leicester grew into the game and equalised in the 67th minute when Ndidi atoned for his first-half error by heading home a James Maddison corner.

Maddison, Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans spurned chances to win it for Leicester late on. (Reuters/NAN)

KIA/DCU

=======

Edited by Donald Ugwu