Jase

Frank Lampard making plans for life at Chelsea without Willian and Pedro in case duo depart https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/06/16/frank-lampard-making-plans-life-chelsea-withoutwillian-pedro/ Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has been making plans in case Willian and Pedro Rodriguez do not extend their contracts past June 30. With less than a week to go before players whose contracts are due to expire at the end of this month must sign temporary extensions to take them to the end of the delayed season, Chelsea are yet to receive clarity on the intentions of Willian and Pedro. That means Lampard has had to use this mini pre-season ahead of Chelsea’s first game back against Aston Villa on Sunday to make plans in case the pair decide not to play on. Players have until June 23 to sign temporary extensions, otherwise they will not be able to play on after June 30. That means Willian and Pedro will certainly be available for the Villa game, plus the visit of Manchester City and the FA Cup tie against Leicester City. But Lampard is having to give consideration to a scenario in which he could be without the pair for the seven Premier League games after that and has tested a number of players in their positions. Lampard has fit-again Christian Pulisic and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi who can comfortably step in for Willian and Pedro, while midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s return offers him further options. Mason Mount has played wide left on a number of occasions this season, while Loftus-Cheek has himself been used in forward positions in the past and underlined his goal threat with a brace in the friendly against Queens Park Rangers. Lampard has been careful not to allow Chelsea to give away too many clues from their training sessions and games, but it is understood players have been rotated heavily in the wide positions. Willian has previously claimed he would be happy to play out the remainder of the season with Chelsea, even if he leaves the club in the next transfer window. But he and Pedro are yet to commit themselves amid suggestions that the duo are concerned about what would happen if they sustained injuries over the run-in. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have shown an interest in Willian, who took part in a number of unapproved interviews regarding his future after flying to Brazil during the coronavirus lockdown, while Roma and Valencia have held talks over a move for Pedro. Losing two of his most experienced players for the run-in, with Chelsea competing for Champions League qualification and the FA Cup, would be a blow to Lampard but the club can do little more than wait to see if Willian and Pedro sign up. Further complicating negotiations over this season has been the fact that Willian rejected Chelsea’s offer of a new two-year contract, insisting he wanted a three-year extension.

Frank Lampard making plans for life at Chelsea without Willian and Pedro in case duo depart https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/06/16/frank-lampard-making-plans-life-chelsea-withoutwillian-pedro/ Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has been making plans in case Willian and Pedro Rodriguez do not extend their contracts past June 30. With less than a week to go before players whose contracts are due to expire at the end of this month must sign temporary extensions to take them to the end of the delayed season, Chelsea are yet to receive clarity on the intentions of Willian and Pedro. That means Lampard has had to use this mini pre-season ahead of Chelsea’s first game back against Aston Villa on Sunday to make plans in case the pair decide not to play on. Players have until June 23 to sign temporary extensions, otherwise they will not be able to play on after June 30. That means Willian and Pedro will certainly be available for the Villa game, plus the visit of Manchester City and the FA Cup tie against Leicester City. But Lampard is having to give consideration to a scenario in which he could be without the pair for the seven Premier League games after that and has tested a number of players in their positions. Lampard has fit-again Christian Pulisic and winger Callum Hudson-Odoi who can comfortably step in for Willian and Pedro, while midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s return offers him further options. Mason Mount has played wide left on a number of occasions this season, while Loftus-Cheek has himself been used in forward positions in the past and underlined his goal threat with a brace in the friendly against Queens Park Rangers. Lampard has been careful not to allow Chelsea to give away too many clues from their training sessions and games, but it is understood players have been rotated heavily in the wide positions. Willian has previously claimed he would be happy to play out the remainder of the season with Chelsea, even if he leaves the club in the next transfer window. But he and Pedro are yet to commit themselves amid suggestions that the duo are concerned about what would happen if they sustained injuries over the run-in. Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have shown an interest in Willian, who took part in a number of unapproved interviews regarding his future after flying to Brazil during the coronavirus lockdown, while Roma and Valencia have held talks over a move for Pedro. Losing two of his most experienced players for the run-in, with Chelsea competing for Champions League qualification and the FA Cup, would be a blow to Lampard but the club can do little more than wait to see if Willian and Pedro sign up. Further complicating negotiations over this season has been the fact that Willian rejected Chelsea’s offer of a new two-year contract, insisting he wanted a three-year extension.

Frank Lampard can look back with pride on first year in the Chelsea job https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/06/16/frank-lampard-can-look-back-pride-first-year-chelsea-job/ Frank Lampard will not get the chance to sit down and toast his one-year anniversary as Chelsea head coach, as he will be preparing his team for the visit of Watford to an empty Stamford Bridge. Just as a number of planned celebrations and landmark occasions have been lost to the lockdown, Lampard will not be able to reflect on his first 12 months, with so much still at stake for Chelsea during the run-in. It was on July 4 last year that Lampard insisted he expected no special favours in his new role at Chelsea and that he did not believe his playing career for the club would grant him more than five minutes of extra time compared to the many managers who have come and gone under owner Roman Abramovich. Lampard’s team will be four games into their restarted season by the time Watford visit, and Abramovich will be as excited as every other Chelsea supporter to see how they can finish. Bruce Buck, the chairman, and director Marina Granovskaia were in the room to watch Lampard give his first press conference, when he recognised that success at Chelsea means silverware and competing in the Champions League, however gratifying promoting young players might be. Though Eden Hazard had already agreed to join Real Madrid and Fifa had banned Chelsea from signing any players during last summer’s transfer window, Granovskaia always felt that Lampard had a squad capable of remaining competitive. But even she might not have expected Chelsea to be in a position to clinch a Champions League place ahead of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal, along with an FA Cup quarter-final date against Leicester City that has kept alive the opportunity to finish the season with a trophy. There has already been a show of recognition for how Lampard has performed, as Chelsea have moved to sign two of his prime targets for next season. Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner were players very much pushed by the 41-year-old, and Granovskaia has delivered on both, with more signings expected to follow. Should Chelsea manage to finish the season in style, then Lampard will eclipse the efforts of Antonio Conte in his second season, when Chelsea finished fifth and won the FA Cup. He would also equal the efforts of Maurizio Sarri, who came through a stormy season to clinch third place and the Europa League. Given both men had Hazard at their disposal and were provided with new signings in each transfer window, it would be a remarkable effort for Lampard to end his first campaign in charge with a trophy and a top-four place. But it should not be seen as a failure if his young squad slip up, and Chelsea’s readiness to commit big money during such uncertain ­economic times on players Lampard believes can make the difference would suggest the club see a future with the manager past this season come what may. Be under no illusion, however, that Lampard has been granted some sort of free hit in his first ­season thanks to his past or the transfer ban. Were Chelsea going into these last nine Premier League games with little left to play for, then it is wholly probable that the names of Mauricio Pochettino and Massimiliano Allegri would already be mentioned. The fact they are not only underlines the impressive work already undertaken by Lampard, which should not be forgotten. Lampard has undeniably added value in just about every area of Chelsea since his arrival. Young players such as Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori and most lately Billy Gilmour, now represent talent worth well over £200 million. Supporters are back on side and will pack into Stamford Bridge when crowds return to watch a more exciting brand of football, while transfer targets see something they want to be part of. There is also a togetherness and discipline in the squad that had been eroded during the second year under Conte and Sarri’s solitary season in charge. Lampard immediately identified that standards had slipped since his playing days and introduced a fine system that made the eyes of even the wealthiest footballers water. Arriving late for the start of training costs players £20,000, with players also having to pay £500 for every minute they turn up late for the start of a team meeting. Failing to report an injury or illness 90 minutes before training or a day off costs an individual £10,000. It is clear to see where players had been taking advantage and setting their own timetables under previous regimes, but Lampard put down an early marker that he would not tolerate some of what had gone before. There has been skilful man-management on Lampard’s part, most recently in the case of N’Golo Kante, who would not be available for Chelsea’s final games were it not for the careful handling of his fears regarding the safety of a return to football. Lampard will know that expectations will have changed heading into this mini-season. The majority of the pundits who predicted Chelsea would not even finish in the top six last summer will now have them down as certainties to hang on to a top-four place. With that expectation comes a different pressure and a knowledge that criticism will follow if Chelsea do slip out of the top four and fail to progress in the FA Cup. But, whatever happens after the restart, perspective should not be lost and, while he might not have time to toast it, Lampard can be proud of his first year back.

Never change, Vesper. Never change...

Werner wants Leipzig exit sped up as Chelsea close in on striker - sources https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/4113170/werner-wants-leipzig-exit-sped-up-as-chelsea-close-in-on-striker-sources Timo Werner has informed RB Leipzig that he does not want to play in the club's Champions League quarterfinal tie, provisionally scheduled for August, so he can push through a move to Chelsea, sources have told ESPN. The 24-year-old has agreed to join the Blues on a five-year deal worth up to £200,000-a-week. Werner had a release clause which set his valuation dependent upon Leipzig's finishing position in the Bundesliga but with three matches still to play, the two clubs negotiated a figure believed to be in the region of €53 million. He is yet to complete a medical due to coronavirus safety measures affecting movement in both Germany and England, but all parties expect a formal announcement to be made soon. Werner is seeking to accelerate that process by confirming he would prefer to start life with his new club rather than complete Leipzig's European campaign. The Bundesliga is due to finish on June 27 but with other European leagues some way behind and travel restrictions still in place in many countries, UEFA are planning to stage the rest of this season's Champions League in a mini-tournament format spread over 11 days in Lisbon in August. Remaining a Leipzig player would prevent Werner joining Chelsea until more than eight weeks after domestic football ends in Germany, given the final is planned for Aug. 23. UEFA will finalise the schedule in a vote on Wednesday. That delay would jeopardise his availability for the start of the 2020-21 Premier League season -- projected for early September -- and so Werner has requested his transfer be completed this month once the Bundesliga campaign is over.

The ship has sailed...

They apparently haven't decided what to do with the Round of 16 2nd legs yet. But the idea from quarter finals onward is to make it a one-legged tie. https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11945/12007446/champions-league-restart-lisbon-to-host-condensed-12-day-final-stages

Maybe you have and you just didn't want to say it.

It's probably no less than your love for Boga...

According to the latest reports, in August. The games will be only one leg from the next round and will be played in Portugal.

I suppose this is not a exactly a black and white situation...

He/She has got a point...

I think that is somewhat debatable. We have been fortunate that the players we have bought in recent years do not have a strong affinity to the Champions League. Of course they want to be playing in it but they do not see as a deal breaker but am pretty sure there is a select group of players who see it as a deal breaker. Plus there is also the fact that despite our crap-ness/inconsistencies/problems, we have always competed for trophies, always winning something and haven't become like Liverpool in the early 2010s or Arsenal - basically irrelevant. We obviously want/need to get back to the very top again but at least we are still relevant enough to be an attractive proposition for players.

Better than not signing anyone!

Yeah, there is reportedly a 5 million difference depending on whether Leipzig qualify for the Champions League. They can virtually guarantee or guarantee it by this Wednesday.

If true, am really really surprised by that.

That seems strange from Werner's perspective considering it would be just a one-off game from quarter-final onward. Anything can happen in a one-off game...

Bayern 0-4 Chelsea incoming. Werner to score all 4 goals.

I can't handle another "this week"...

Would argue that the slower pace nature of the Serie A suits him now at his age. Plus, many players in their mid 30s or late 30s have tended to shine in Serie A. He is no different. May well struggle if he were to come back to the Premier League.