The Times - UK (2020-06-29)

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Jonny Evans to steer Willian’s cross

past Kasper Schmeichel.

Barkley was sliding on his knees

towards the area where Chelsea’s

travelling contingent would normally

be. Chelsea’s manager, meanwhile,

was turning away, raising his arm

briefly in salute before focusing again,

analysing, conversing with his

assistant, Jody Morris, checking on

any flaws.

He had told Barkley to get into the

box, and the player surely did not

need reminding that his manager had

been a master of that art. If Barkley

can continue learning from Lampard,

it will be a boon for England as well

as Chelsea. Barkley still needs to work

on his distribution, and he wasted two

final balls to Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Yet

he was working hard, soon showing

more defensive qualities, tracking

back to close down Marc Albrighton

and then James Justin. He almost

scored a second, but the excellent

Schmeichel saved well.

At the final whistle, Lampard went

round all his players,congratulating

them, but then sent out another

message, via his post-match interview,

that the win was “lucky”; he expects

more. But there was also some

supportive words: “The young players

that came off at half-time will be top

players for this club.” Lampard’s

advanced man-management,

demanding and understanding,

is working well at Chelsea.

As one of the finest English midfield
players of the modern era, Frank
Lampard constantly imposed himself
on games. As a young head coach,
taking charge of Chelsea for only the
45th time, adding to his 57 matches at
Derby County, Lampard continues to
change the flow of games with strong
words and sound substitutions,
turning the tide his way. His game
management was again decisive,
changing the mood and personnel
to ensure progress to the FA Cup
semi-finals where they will play
Manchester United.
There was something rather
pertinent about Lampard sending on
Ross Barkley, urging him to get into
the box and score, which the England
international promptly did. Just as
Lampard used to.
Something special is building at
Chelsea, and Lampard is the
ambitious architect. In their past five
fixtures Chelsea have defeated
Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa,
Manchester City and now Leicester
City. They drew with Bournemouth
and were schooled by Bayern Munich
immediately before that, and
Lampard is still learning his trade
and building his side, but his huge
potential as a manager is clear.
He took responsibility as a player
and does the same as a manager.
Players respond to him. Christian
Pulisic is more of a threat since the
restart, and was one of Chelsea’s few
pluses in a poor first period.
After a lethargic start, Lampard
demanded a change of mood during
the first drinks break, telling his
players they needed to move the ball
more quickly, instilling a bit more
urgency in them and wresting the
initiative back from Leicester, who

HENRY

WINTER

Chief Football Writer

had begun more brightly. Billy

Gilmour, the 19-year-old midfielder, is

an exciting prospect, and will clearly

play an important part in Chelsea’s

future, but he is still a work in

progress. Gilmour betrayed his callow

years at times, losing the ball, and

Youri Tielemans almost exploited

such largesse in the first half. The

mid-half breather gave Lampard the

opportunity for a few instructions and

encouraging words, not only to

Gilmour but all his players in a

huddle.

Gilmour was slightly more effective

afterwards, though still prone to

lapses in concentration when picking

a pass. Antonio Rüdiger immediately

took Lampard’s message on board,

driving a ball quickly in to

Willian, triggering another move,

earning applause from the

dugout. It will be interesting to

see whether managers and

head coaches call for the

authorities, including Fifa, to

allow the water breaks to

continue next season. It’s

one for the League

Managers Association

to consider and, if they

deem it a good idea, to

campaign for.

For all his words,

Lampard’s frustration at

watching Jamie Vardy almost

score before the break was

clear, and he spoke sternly

to his players at the interval.

Barkley told BT Sport

afterwards that Lampard

had informed his players

that “it is not good enough

for the Chelsea badge to be

performing like that”.

When that comes from a

Chelsea legend, a player

who gave everything for

the badge, it carries

even more weight.

Lampard also

instructed his men to

be more vocal, to

make things happen.

Lampard, 42, has

always thought deeply about the

game, from a young age talking with

his father, Frank Senior. He always

worked hard as a player, always

seeking to better himself, an attitude

that drove him to Champions League

and Premier League glory and 106

England caps. Now he drives his

players on, demanding the best, and

he made it very clear to his players

afterwards that he felt more was

required. He expects consistently high

standards. Just as he delivered.

Deeds followed words at the break.

It still shows self-belief to make a

triple substitution after 45 minutes,

even with a possible six eventually

available. It was the type of confident

act that José Mourinho did during

his first spell at Chelsea.

Youth departed, experience

arrived. He removed Gilmour,

inserting Mateo Kovacic

alongside N’Golo Kanté, and

authority and control

immediately returned to

Chelsea’s midfield.

Chelsea invariably look

better with Kovacic in

there, stoking the fires

in the engine room,

charging forward,

pressing and creating

with simple passes.

César Azpilicueta came in

at right back for Reece

James to give more

leadership in defence.

Mason Mount was

struggling to bring his

undoubted creativity to the

game, so Lampard simply

replaced him with Barkley,

who settled the tie with his

ninth goal in his 75th

appearance for Chelsea.

With the clock showing 63

minutes, Azpilicueta and Willian

combined on the right, causing

Ben Chilwell to shout for support.

Willian had time and space to put

his foot on the ball and then pick

out Barkley’s run. Wilfred Ndidi

was too slow to react, not spotting

Barkley, who darted in ahead of

Leicester’s best chance came when

Marc Albrighton floated a cross in to

the far post, which was misjudged by

Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero.

He managed only a flailing flick on the

ball before it reached Caglar Söyüncü,

who headed over the bar

KEY MOMENT

The only goal was created by

Willian, who paused with the ball

before crossing from the right,

allowing Ross Barkley time to arrive in

the penalty area behind Wilfred Ndidi

and send a low volley past Schmeichel

Despite struggling for rhythm, Chelsea

had the best chance of the first half

when Mason Mount laid the ball off to

Christian Pulisic, who was moving at

speed into the Leicester penalty area

and saw his rising shot touched over

the bar by Kasper Schmeichel

Match briefing

minutes

4 2GG Monday June 29 2020 | the times

thegame FA C u p

48% 52%

POSSESSION

34

SHOTS ON TARGET

87

FOULS

01

Barkley 63

Bold Lampard

turns the tide

for Chelsea

Leicester

City

Chelsea

BRENDAN RODGERS

AGAINST CHELSEA

Drawn

8

Lost

7

Games

15

RATINGS

Leicester City (4-1-4-1): K Schmeichel 8 — J

Justin 6, J Evans 6, C Söyüncü 6, B Chilwell 7 —

W Ndidi 5 — A Pérez 6 (M Albrighton 57min, 6),

D Praet 6 (H Choudhury 57, 6), Y Tielemans 7,

H Barnes 6 (D Gray 76); J Vardy 6. Booked

Söyüncü.

Chelsea (4-3-3): W Caballero 6 — R James 4

(C Azpilicueta 45, 7), A Rüdiger 6, K Zouma 6,

Emerson 6; B Gilmour 4 (M Kovacic 45, 7), N-G

Kanté 7, M Mount 5 (R Barkley 45, 7) — Willian

7 (Pedro 78), T Abraham 6, C Pulisic 7

(R Loftus-Cheek 72).

Referee M Dean.