Squawka news chelsea

REUTERS: Chelsea's Premier League trip to promoted West Bromwich Albion on Saturday will come too soon for their new goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, manager Frank Lampard has said. Chelsea signed the Senegal international for a reported 22 million pounds (US$27.98 million) from Stade Rennais on Thursday following a series of costly gaffes from current first-choice Kepa Arrizabalaga. Mendy played 33 games in all competitions for Rennes last season as they finished third in Ligue 1, but Lampard said the 28-year-old needed time to train with his new team mates. "To start tomorrow is not going to happen," Lampard told a news conference on Friday. "He has had a long week and not really trained. Too tight a turnaround." The manager said he intended to speak to Arrizabalaga and back-up keeper Willy Caballero following Mendy's arrival and wanted healthy competition in the squad. Chelsea started the season with a convincing win at Brighton & Hove Albion but slipped up at home against … [Read more...] about Lampard rules out Mendy for Chelsea’s trip to West Brom

LONDON: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard on Thursday (Dec 9) said he is relishing a reunion with the London club's former boss Carlo Ancelotti, now in charge of Everton, ahead of their Premier League meeting on Saturday. Ancelotti guided Chelsea to the Premier League and FA Cup double in the 2009-10 season with Lampard one of the mainstays of his midfield and the current Blues boss hailed the veteran Italian manager. "I was heavily influenced by him as a player and a man. He's right at the top of managers I worked with," Lampard told a news conference. "He's had huge success at various clubs. He was a great coach, a great man and I look forward to seeing him." Everton, beaten 4-0 by Lampard's side in their last meeting, made a solid start to the current season and led the table before a dip in form saw them slide to ninth place with 17 points from 11 games, six places and five points behind Chelsea. "The Premier League is unforgiving. They've had injuries. It doesn't change my … [Read more...] about Football: Lampard looking forward to Ancelotti reunion as Chelsea visit Everton

REUTERS: Frank Lampard has said he wants to extend his contract as Chelsea manager to become part of a long-term project at Stamford Bridge. Lampard, 42, has 18 months left on his contract at Chelsea, having succeeded Maurizio Sarri in July 2019. After guiding Chelsea to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, Lampard is now working to make the club title contenders, having overseen a squad rebuild that cost around 220 million pounds in the summer transfer window. "In terms of my contract, it seems to have flown by, the time I've been here," Lampard told a news conference. "I knew there were a lot of circumstances at the beginning that were going to make last year transitional and maybe slightly difficult. "Now I feel like I would love to be part of the long-term plan here. The signings we made in the summer, other than probably Thiago Silva, particularly, were signings for now and the future." The new signings have already made an impact, with Chelsea … [Read more...] about Football: Lampard keen to extend stay at Chelsea

LONDON: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes reigning European champions Bayern Munich are a benchmark for his young players as they target improvements on all fronts ahead of their Champions League opener against Sevilla. Bayern thrashed Lampard's Chelsea 7-1 on aggregate in the round of 16 last season before lifting the trophy for the sixth time in August. "It is a great platform to learn because you're playing against the best, and we played against the best in Bayern Munich," Lampard told a news conference on Tuesday. "We were a young team last year, working a lot to improve, and the Bayern game was a great marker for the young players in the squad to realise the levels that need to be attained. I remember having that myself as a young player. "Of the players we have brought in, some have more Champions League experience than others." Chelsea have added Champions League experience to the squad in the close season with the arrival of defender Thiago Silva and forwards … [Read more...] about Football: Lampard sets Bayern benchmark for youthful Chelsea

REUTERS: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was impressed by Billy Gilmour's "outstanding" return to first-team action after the Scottish midfielder delivered an assured midfield performance in Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League draw with Krasnodar. The 19-year-old was handed his full European debut in the Group E match after spending four months on the sidelines following knee surgery. Gilmour, who arrived from Scottish side Rangers in 2017, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Stamford Bridge last season but with Lampard spending around 220 million pounds (US$294.29 million) on new players in last transfer window there is now even more competition for places. Gilmour is vying for game time with N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount. "I thought Billy was outstanding on his return, I felt very comfortable with him coming back in, he's trained so well, done his rehab and he deserved his chance tonight," said Lampard. British media have reported Rangers are keen to … [Read more...] about Chelsea’s Lampard hails teen midfielder Gilmour on return