Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard believes that the club do not need to strengthen during the summer transfer window as the Blues have a ‘very strong squad’ already and can challenge for major honours.
Many of the big Premier League clubs have been making additions to their squad over the summer, but the England and Chelsea midfielder says that the Stamford Bridge club have no reason to fear.
The 33-year-old said:
“Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City have spent fortunes on good quality players, but we are in a bit of a different situation in that we already had a very strong squad.
“The manager wants to evaluate what he has got which is understandable and who knows whether we add or change, that is the manager’s prerogative, but the great thing we have already is we believe in ourselves as we are.
“Whether the manager makes additions or changes or not, I think the squad is very strong to challenge.
“Whether Man United or any other team spends, we still believe in ourselves.”
He added:
“We just have to learn the lessons and we have the quality in this team to be successful, it is a matter of getting our focus right.
“We had a very poor patch of form for a few months last season which you can’t afford to do and we have to be aware of that and make sure we keep our eye on the ball individually.
“If we do that with the quality we have I don’t see a reason why we can’t get back to the successes we had the year before and more.”
He’s pretty much just saying what you would expect him to say and it is important to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, but not adding quality in the areas needed seems to be a mistake that we may keep on making.
Last season Lampard missed a lot of games, Didier Drogba suffered from malaria and a few other players had their individual injury woes and Chelsea struggled as a result. Last season’s ‘bad moment’ showed how reliant we are on a small number of individuals and lacked the squad depth to get us out of a rut.
As well as relying too heavily on a few players in the past, we have long been without a proper creative influence in midfield and we’re still lacking pace in the wide areas, which I believe is a heavy limitation on the way we play as we do not have enough variety in the squad.
We have got a good squad, but last season was a cautionary tale which simply cannot be ignored and a few ins/outs could make a big difference. Yes, we did finish runners-up last season, but that was behind a poor Manchester United side, who know that their squad needs work (especially after being destroyed by Barcelona in the Champions League final) and have already been active during the summer months.
I believe Chelsea need to strengthen this season in order to improve and avoid the mistakes of the past, what do you think? – Have your say in the comments section below
You are spot on Anthony and Lamps is talking out of his rear end. As a player he did not come back strongly after his injury last term and from the little I have seen of him in training and on the pitch so far this summer he has not shown any form himself as yet. I am a huge Lamps fan but I would be more impressed if he were to offer to retire from International football to elongate his career and just try and get himself back to his best form personally. At the moment he is certainly one player that needs replacing as not good enough in a first 11. As you have mentioned we desperately need width and a world class midfield playmaker if we are to get anywhere. If AVB listens to this tosh or believe’s it himself I predict he will go the same way as Carlo. My really big fear is that there is NO reality coming from the Chelsea management or squad at the moment whilst our opposition are strengthening. I just hope that Roman will step in and recognize the true problems within our squad from last term and take the lead which is not coming from the new Manager or players as yet. Why is it that only the fans seem to be able to see the obvious? Mind you I suppose if I was on £150k per week and playing like a numpty I would want to protect myself too. KTBFFH
Thanks, Alan and too true. The fans know it, ex-Chelsea players know it, the media know it and all the pundits know it…I just hope AVB knows it and I’m sure he does, but we’ll have to see how he goes about rectifying the obvious flaws.
Gr8 Frank! U knw U r just concerned abt having a lesser playing time. I personally appreciate Ur contribution 2 d club’s successes so far but on the pitch, we now saw a tired Frankie. If U luv this club wholeheartedly, then give room 4 d acquisition of fresh legs.
There is absolutely no reason for any of you muppets to be having a go at Frank. He’s not going to come out and say we need to strengthen here there and everywhere. It’s nothing to do with his legs going. He’s being a professional.
Now go to goal.com. Palermo president has said that a bid has been summitted for Pastore. I know its Chelsea because:
1. We are the suprisers nowadays with the transfers of unexpected people like AVB despite Hiddink rumours, Fernando Torres and David Luiz at the last minute of the transfer.
So we are only using Modric rumours to drive away leaking deals.
The President also said the club dont their name unveiled. I believe that is AVB’s doing.
Kudos to Chelsea
These old war horses or Players as some might still call them are scared of losing their place and being seen as untouchables… But grandpa lampard and drogba… u guys can’t play football at chelsea forever now we need a revolution not an evolution… U can’t teach an old dog new tricks… Its time to take the back seat… Let the manger use these old folks sparingly like the way fergie used sheringham, sokljear, scholes and giggs… In the mean time these old men can pass their experience to the young chaps coming thru the ranks during training!… Big decisions need to be made with players going out Malouda, kalou, bosingwa, ferriera, zhirkov, mikel, anelka, turnbull… And potential players coming in hazard, modric, sneidjer, pastore, van der weil, moutinho … Etc if AVB refuses to listen to fans that have been watching this team week in week out for the past 3 years when he has been away from the club… The same fate of his predecessors is sure to await him “SACK”
Mikel is not for sale
Hey mr.frank,if you dnt have any thing 2 say,u better shut your mouth up.ok,i have knw your problem,i have seen dat you are afraid of modric,pastore or even vidal taking your starting spot.am very sorry for you.avb,you should be wise,dont allow this men 2 fool you or ealse you will end up the same way ancelotti did jst go into transfer market and sign players please am beging you.with this players,i dont this chelsea will be in super four this season.out/in,anelka,kalou,malouda,zhikov,bosingwa,pherira,tunbull nd maybe mikel if we can get rossi for his replacement.ins,aguero,hamsik,arda turan,juan mata,pastore,lukaku,vidal,modric nd van der weil.with this,i believe chelsea will win both the campions league nd premier league this season.
lampard is a dead wood.
How can he say we do not need players in addition to last season’s squad when we are already depleted with sale of players to Hamburg AND Essien’s injury.
2 midfielders (one AM and one DM). Modric/Thuran and lassana diarra/vidal. 1 striker neymar/aguero that’s it. promote rajkovic, kalas and delac as goal keeper. mceahran, kakuta could also be used with PVA and berntrand(try him at right back) and use luiz as def mid.