Lampard challenges Chelsea to ‘step up and be clinical’ in the biggest games | OneFootball

Icon: The Football Faithful

The Football Faithful

·19 January 2021

Lampard challenges Chelsea to ‘step up and be clinical’ in the biggest games

Article image:Lampard challenges Chelsea to ‘step up and be clinical’ in the biggest games

Frank Lampard has challenged Chelsea to ‘step up and be clinical’ in the biggest games ahead of tonight’s crucial clash with top four rivals Leicester.

Lampard’s side travel to the King Power Stadium this evening looking to get their push for a top four finish back on track, last weekend’s 1-0 win at Fulham just the Blues’ second victory in their past seven Premier League fixtures.


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Chelsea will face a Leicester side currently sitting third in the division and in pursuit of Champions League football once again, with Brendan Rodgers’ impressive outfit just two points adrift of league leaders, Manchester United.

Lampard will be hoping his side can improve on a concerning record against the division’s best sides this season, the victory over West Ham last month the only time Chelsea have beaten a side currently in the Premier League’s top half.

Defeat tonight would leave the west London side with a significant gap to bridge to the top four, and Lampard has challenged his side to be ‘clinical’ in the defining moments against the Premier League’s best.

“Some of that is circumstance, as in moments,” he said at his pre-match press conference. “Those moments have not come for us.

“Against Liverpool, we were really feeling our way because of the new signings and being back quickly. At 0-0 just before half-time, we have a man sent-off, it changes the game, we make a mistake and we miss a penalty.

“Manchester United earlier in the season, we were defensively very sound and we had a clear penalty that did not go our way. This isn’t making excuses by the way, but the games against the top teams can be fine margins.

“The top end of our pitch is a bit young and, sometimes, we are waiting for players to really hit form and rack up some numbers in those tight games. You need that. You need to get your nose in front.

“The first 15 minutes against Manchester City, we were the best team. We did not score and they showed their quality in that 30-minute patch after that. Can we step up and be clinical at the top end of the pitch to win those games?

“It’s a positive we have beaten some of the other teams more regularly. Teams that win leagues need to churn out wins in those games. But, of course, if we want to get to where we want to, we need to beat teams around the top and we have an opportunity to do so against Leicester.”

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