While practically every other club in world football will have to tighten their belts as the financial ramifications of coronavirus hit home, Chelsea have loosened theirs considerably.
With the money from Eden Hazard’s sale to Real Madrid burning a hole in his deep pockets, Roman Abramovich has sanctioned the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner for a combined £85m with Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell also believed to feature prominently on the Russian’s shopping list.
That the Blues are getting their impressive business done efficiently bodes well for next season, but Frank Lampard will not let off-field matters distract from those on it with a place in next season’s Champions League still up for grabs.
Furthermore, Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and other beneficiaries of Chelsea’s transfer ban last summer should have an extra spring in their steps from now until the end of the campaign considering the quality of competitors coming in. That too should be to Chelsea’s benefit.
On Sunday, Lampard’s side face an Aston Villa side buoyed by a one in nine thousand error from goal-line technology against Sheffield United but still in desperate need of points to remain in the division. Lampard’s friendship with Villa assistant John Terry will have to be put to one side for one afternoon with both sides having plenty to play for, despite being at opposite ends of the table.
Here are the main tactical and selection dilemmas facing Lampard.
Defence
Prior to lockdown, Lampard pivoted between 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 as did his opposite number at the weekend Dean Smith. Vila’s use of the former system against Sheffield United in midweek might encourage Lampard to do likewise in order to match up man-for-man in central midfield.
The absence of Fikayo Tomori through injury may also factor into Lampard’s thinking as the young Englishman has thrived in a back three. Lampard still has plenty of options in central defence with Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Kurt Zouma vying for selection.
Cesar Azpilicueta has belatedly received some competition for his place at right-back from Chelsea’s Trent Alexander-Arnold equivalent, Reece James, but the elder statesman may win out in that duel this weekend to contain Villa’s talisman Jack Grealish.
On the left, Marcos Alonso was in good goalscoring form pre-lockdown but he is far more suited to a wing-back role than a full-back one.
Midfield
Perhaps only Manchester City can boast a greater depth of quality in central midfield than Chelsea whose options have been bolstered further by the welcome return to fitness of Ruben Loftus-Cheek following a 13-month lay-off.
“He is looking fit, taking part in the games and working hard,” Lampard said of the England international. “We haven’t had enough matches for him so we will have to manage him.”
Loftus-Cheek will compete with Mason Mount and Ross Barkley for the more advanced role in central midfield, while Lampard will pick from N’Golo Kante – back in contention after initially expressing fears over Project Restart – Mateo Kovacic and Scotland’s closest thing to Xavi, Billy Gilmour, for the remaining two slots.
Jorginho, again linked with a return to Italy in recent weeks, is unavailable due to suspension after accumulating 10 yellow cards before the break.
Attack
While Lampard has a selection headache over central midfielders, it should be more straightforward for him when it comes to picking his wide attackers. Pedro Rodriguez is unlikely to feature at all between now and the end of the season after confirming that he will leave on 30 June, with Roma expected to be his next club.
Willian is also approaching the end of his contract and Chelsea have until 23 June to convince the Brazilian to commit his future to the club otherwise he too may have played his final game for the club. Lampard also ruled Callum Hudson-Odoi out of contention as the youngster is struggling for match fitness which all but confirms Christian Pulisic’s starting place at Villa Park.
According to reports, 17-year-old Tino Livramento has been integrated into first-team training due to the situations surrounding Pedro and Wilian. Mount has tended to play in a central position for much of the season but is versatile enough to start on the left from where he can drift infield.
Up front, Olivier Giroud performed admirably pre-lockdown after previously being frozen out but Tammy Abraham is Lampard’s first-choice No 9 and it would be a surprise to see him left out against a team for whom he scored 26 times last season.
Here’s how Chelsea could line-up against Aston Villa:
More on Chelsea
- The new Special One: How Lampard has usurped Mourinho at Chelsea
- Problem of his own making: Werner’s transfer will leave Lampard with a selection headache
- 10 youngsters set to shine as the Premier League (finally) returns
- A star is born… Gilmour sets the tempo to leave Everton dazed and confused
- Barkley’s backwards career exposed in chastening night against Bayern Munich
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2NbLzYH
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