A full transcript from Frank Lampard’s post-match press conference after Chelsea picked up a much-needed three points with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium
Chelsea’s interim boss Frank Lampard (Image: David Horton – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Relief after the win?
“I think the Arsenal first-half wasn’t good enough, there’s no point in going on about that. The second-half performance was better and in the days between games, we cannot work much but we can talk to the players as a group or individually.
“Today was a small step forward. I thought we controlled a lot of the game. Bournemouth will always give you problems here – they’re a good team. You never feel safe at 1-1 but I think we controlled it a lot. Maybe a sign of us controlling it in the first-half without the killer instinct.
“We were running inside of their box a lot in the first-half. We had a lot of overloads on one side of the pitch. As this team develops, or as we add to the squad, you have to be killers at the top-end of the pitch. If you look at the top-half of the table, that’s what there is all across it. At the moment we haven’t got that but you saw nice individual performances today and it’s a step in a positive direction.”
You brought on Sterling and Ziyech. It seemed like they both got booed by the away end…
“Our fans were fantastic today, so I personally appreciate their support. We had a moment at that end of the pitch where everyone feels good for a day, I think that’s important for the players and the fans. In terms of the subs themselves, I think all of the subs we made had an impact.
“In terms of Ruben and Raheem coming on a bit earlier, I think Ruben gave us a bit of physical presence and calmness on the ball and Raheem, as you say, was involved in the goal. Azpi came on and gave us leadership. Hakim came on and gave us an assist and played really well. I think the opinion can always change in a period.
“They’re two players – Hakim and Raheem – that want to do well as football players and they have big talent both of them. If it’s form, it’s very much temporary and I think their class is permanent and I’m pleased for them today having an impact when they came on.”
We’ve spoke about the flat atmosphere after the games, can you give us an indication of the players’ sense of relief?
“They should enjoy it and we’re happy. There’s no doubt because when you don’t have that feeling for a while it gets you down. I walked into that. It was very evident from coming in that there was a lot of picking up that needed to be done and unfortunately you need results to go in line with that to keep stepping forward.
“That’s been tough and the lads are all human. When you’re not winning games, or if you don’t feel like you’re at your best, and the only way to get through that is to fight and to get through it. In this period, it will be the challenge on the players that will make them stronger or better as they go on.
“Absolutely they should enjoy tonight and have a beer or wine, or whatever they do. We don’t want to take our foot off the pedal in terms of trying to take steps towards the end of the season because it’s important. Today you saw individual performances in Badiashile, in Conor Gallagher, in Noni Madueke and other players in the team, so that’s a big step forward because these are individuals who will be part of the team going forward probably. That’s a good sign.”
Before the two late goals, Todd Boehly was coming in for a bit of stick [from the fans]…
“This is Chelsea Football Club. The fans have been used to a lot of success, that’s what they want. I’m not going to comment on any of the stuff you’re talking about but what I do know is the fans will stick with the club and they’re a fantastic group of fans.
“I do know that there’s a lot of intention to get this club where we want to be again. There’s not one club out there of our size or anywhere near our size that hasn’t had transitional periods. People would give their left arm to have the success we’ve had over the last 20 years, so we have to go again, work a bit and come back stronger next year.”
Will you have a beer tonight?
“Yeah, for sure. I’ll have one on the coach now [laughs]. Not too many.”
Latest on Ben Chilwell…
“Hamstring. We don’t know [if it’s serious]. But with a hamstring at this stage of the season it will clearly be a worry for the remaining games.”
Thiago Silva was again brilliant…
“Thiago is a credit in all aspects. He’s a classy, brilliant player. His career says it. He’s brilliant at looking after himself. At 38 or so, I was in the MLS at that point. I understand it. Especially as a centre-back to be playing in the Premier League.
“What he must be doing to his body. He’s also got a real great mind and he has a winning mentality so he would have been suffering a bit recently because he feels it, he wears it. He’s a great reference point for the young centre-backs we have in the team around him. Again, nothing but praise for Thiago in all aspects.”
All these players who are 23 or younger, giving performances that were highly respectable, should they now be in the team for the rest of the season in order to form relationships and combinations?
“Probably not easy to answer that. To a degree, yes. My role now is to try and give those players minutes. To show and to grow a little bit in the team. But also as much as there’s that, I have to work with all of the players who need to respect what I’m trying to do.
“So if they’re training well, there are other players that will be pushing those players as well. Noni’s performance on Tuesday gets him in the team today even though he was not so well a couple of days ago. I think we all saw Benoit today and it’s pretty clear he has a big talent. For me, those decisions I’ll have to make but they have to keep their level, to keep pushing.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7ECKYAg4iA&ab_channel=ChelseaFootballClub
Source: football.london
