Chelsea warned they can't outscore everybody

Chelsea have been warned that they cannot expect to “outscore everybody”, with Tony Cascarino claiming that a “young and defensively naive team” still have much to learn if they are to challenge for the most prestigious of prizes.

The 2019-20 campaign is considered to be something of a learning curve for the Blues.

Frank Lampard took charge over the summer aware that faith was going to have to be shown in youthduring a two-window transfer embargo.

That approach has delivered rich rewards, with a number of home-grown stars catching the eye, but a lack of experience has been exposed at times – both domestically and in Europe.

Former Chelsea striker Cascarino hopes to see those issues addressed by a team harbouring ambitions of forcing their way back into Premier League title contention and competing for a Champions League crown on the continental stage.

He told talkSPORT after witnessing a 2-2 draw away at Valencia: “I get why Chelsea fans are excited about the team’s attacking flair, they always look like getting goals.

“But I cannot see them winning the Champions League if they defend the way they did.

“This has been a problem since Frank has taken over. He’s got a very young and naive team defensively.

“He’s had [Kurt] Zouma and [Fikayo] Tomori playing at centre-half, with [Andreas] Christensen and Reece James at full-back. James, in the 94th minute, is literally on the 18 yard box, Chelsea have been countered and they nearly lost the game!

“I think they will be punished if they defend in that manner where they are playing so aggressively.

“Look, Kepa saved a penalty, conceded twice and Valencia still missed four sitters.

“Chelsea cannot win the Champions League if they think they’re just going to outscore everybody.

“Can they win games? Yeah, they can beat anyone on their day, but I can’t see them putting in a really mundane and professional defensive performance, like the one that won Liverpool the final last season against Tottenham.

“I think there’s a lot more to come from this Chelsea team, but I think it might be too early for them.”

“It’s much better, much better than when it happened,"

Tammy Abraham is hopeful that he won't have to miss much time after an injury scare against Valencia.

The striker had to be removed from Wednesday's Champions League match on a stretcher after a clash with Ezequiel Garay just before half-time.

Abraham and Garay went up for a challenge and as the pair fell to the ground, Abraham landed on Garay's legs and appeared to injure his hip in the process.

Though Abraham was in serious pain on the field, the 22-year-old said after the game that he's optimistic about his prognosis.

“It’s much better, much better than when it happened," Abraham told Chelsea TV after a 2-2 draw.

“At the time I was fearful of the worst obviously, but I got in and was able to walk again, move about.

“I’m thankful, hopefully it’s not too long. I’ll have a scan tomorrow to see what the news is but hopefully it is just a bruise. It was a knee near my hip arena, hopefully it’s nothing too serious.”

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was also fearful immediately after the injury, but said he was also hopeful that his star striker won't be out for long.

"The word at half-time was it looked quite severe, a bang on the hip," Lampard said.

"Then the word after the game was it might not be as severe as we first thought. That’s as much details as I have.”

The two teams played out a thrilling match on Wednesday, an encounter that featured four goals and should have had several more. 

Valencia, in particular, were guilty of missing two glaring chances, one from Maxi Gomez in the first half and another from Rodrigo Moreno in the dying stages.

In the end, Chelsea emerged with control of their own destiny in Group H, as they will reach the last 16 with a win at home against Lille on the final matchday.

Lampard admitted that his side are slightly fortunate to be in such a position after watching their opponents fluff their lines several times.

“We both had incredible chances, we had one in the first few minutes," Lampard said. "We had numerous ones in the first half, so did they. Maybe their chances were more clear-cut than ours.

"I wouldn’t say I feel fortunate. Did I love the match? No I didn’t love it. Because it hasn’t been many times this season where I have had to say ‘we kind of got away with that’. Today was one of those because they missed big opportunities.

"Perhaps we deserved the slices of luck that we got tonight, but I won’t take away from the fact that we have to take some of our opportunities. It could have been 5-5, 6-6, one of those games.”

Christensen believes Giroud & Batshuayi are capable of providing cover.

Tammy Abraham’s injury has presented Chelsea boss Frank Lampard with a selection poser up front, but Andreas Christensen claims Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi are “more than capable” of providing cover.

The in-form England international striker was forced from the field during the Blues’ 2-2 Champions League draw with Valencia.

Abraham was replaced at the interval by Batshuayi, with the Belgian frontman given an opportunity to shine against his former loan club.

World Cup winner Giroud was left on the bench, but the Frenchman will hope to come into contention now that an attacking berth has come up for grabs.

It remains to be seen how long Abraham will be sidelined for, with the severity of his injury being played down, but Christensen is convinced that Chelsea have the strength in depth to counter his absence regardless.

The Danish defender, who returned from his own fitness struggles to start against Valencia, told theEvening Standard: “We have two other strikers who are more than capable of going on the pitch and being at that level.

“I didn’t actually see what happened to Tammy, but hopefully he is not too bad. The other two are more than capable of playing their part.

“I have been training a lot with them. I’ve been injured, but been preparing to come back into the team as they have as well.

“I think you’re going to see, whoever plays, that they’re very eager to come back. They know it’s their time to shine. We are all looking sharp and that’s why we can press like we do in every game.”

Abraham forced off against Valencia

Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham was forced out of his side's Champions League encounter at Valencia on Wednesday in what could be a major blow for the Blues.

As the first half was winding down Abraham went up for a header with Valencia defender Ezequiel Garay and appeared to land awkwardly on the Argentine's legs as both players fell to the ground.

Abraham walked to the sideline in considerable pain as he appeared to be holding his side, with Chelsea physios examining him.

As the half-time whistle blew a stretcher was brought out for the England international, who had to be carried from the pitch.

The second half began with Michy Batshuayi – who spent part of last season on loan at Valencia – being brought on in Abraham's place with the score tied at 1-1.

The game would end in a thrilling 2-2 draw, as the hosts spurned a number of clear chances to gain a major win over their Premier League visitors. 

Abraham has established himself as one of the top strikers in the Premier League in what has been a breakout campaign for the striker thus far.

The 22-year-old has scored 11 goals in all competitions for the Blues, including 10 in the Premier League in his first full season with the Blues senior squad.

Abraham had spent the previous three seasons on loan, gaining first-team experience with Bristol City, Swansea City and Aston Villa. 

The striker has become part of a young nucleus of Chelsea homegrown stars who have made a major impact in Frank Lampard's first season at the helm.

With the club hamstrung by a transfer ban, the likes of Abraham, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori have become key figures on the senior side after coming up through the Chelsea academy.

If Abraham is forced to miss time then Chelsea's other two main forwards, Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud, will have to step into more prominent roles at Stamford Bridge as they look to fill the void.

Valencia CF 2-2 Chelsea FC

Daniel Wass scored a fortuitous and crucial late equaliser for Valencia to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Chelsea on Wednesday in a thrilling contest that left Champions League Group H wide open.

Frank Lampard's men had looked on course to leave Mestalla with the victory that would have clinched their spot in the knockout phase after Christian Pulisic's go-ahead strike was added to by a Kepa Arrizabalaga penalty save, but Wass' effort led to a share of the spoils.

A dramatic, end-to-end first half saw both sides threaten regularly and, despite some wretched finishing, two goals in as many minutes from Carlos Soler and Mateo Kovacic – his first for Chelsea – meant the score was level at the interval.

Everything looked to be going Chelsea's way after Pulisic struck and Kepa parried Dani Parejo's penalty, but Wass' right-wing cross went straight in with eight minutes left to rescue Valencia, who would have won it but for an inexcusable stoppage-time miss by Rodrigo. 

 

Maxi Gomez let Chelsea off the hook twice in a wild first half, the Uruguayan completely missing the ball a few yards out for the first chance, before then shooting wide from a similarly presentable opportunity.

Soler made no such mistake after 40 minutes, however, turning in Rodrigo's cross a few moments after Jasper Cillessen acrobatically denied Tammy Abraham.

But he was helpless to prevent Kovacic swiftly equalising, the Croatian finding the bottom-left corner from 20 yards.

Chelsea were concerned to lose Abraham to injury at the interval, though that did not prevent them taking the lead in the 50th minute – Pulisic prodding in from close range after Kurt Zouma's knockdown, the goal allowed to stand after a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside.

Valencia failed to restore parity just past the hour when Kepa denied Parejo following a tangle involving Jorginho and Jose Gaya.

The hosts' persistence was rewarded when Wass' first-time cross late on went over Kepa and found the net, but that was where their luck ended, as Rodrigo incredibly missed the target from a few yards out in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

"He taught me to hate defeat"

Kurt Zouma says new Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho taught him to "hate losing" while helping the French defender adjust to the Premier League at Chelsea.

Zouma joined the Blues from Saint-Etienne in 2014 and played a combined 58 games over his first two seasons in English football.

He won the Premier League title in his first season in the league as well as his third, a campaign where he was used sparingly under Antonio Conte as he returned from an ACL injury.

Zouma proceeded to go on Stoke City and Everton in recent years, but has returned to the Chelsea lineup this season under Frank Lampard.

The Frenchman says Mourinho, who recently took over at Spurs, deserves credit for preparing him to play at a top English club.

"It was Mourinho who opened the gates of England to me. I was only 19 when I arrived there. I was young," Zouma told France Football. 

"He also gave me confidence by making me play big games with a lot of intensity. He was the one who showed me what football was like in England.

"The coach is a man who hates losing. He taught me to hate defeat. Thanks to him, I was able to flourish at Chelsea. He gave me a lot of things and taught me a lot. I thank him."

Lampard, who left Chelsea just as Zouma arrived, has used the defender much more than his predecessors Conte and Maurizio Sarri.

Zouma has featured 19 times this season under the former England midfielder, and the defender says that Lampard has made a massive impact in his short time in charge.

"He is a coach who is really close to us. It's clear that he was still a player until recently. He talks to us a lot, participates a lot in training. When we work defensively on corners, he's the one who takes them. You should see the precision he has.

"It's amazing. He has so many qualities with his feet. He also does the rondo with us. I can assure you that he almost never goes in the middle. He is still very strong."

Lampard calls on Barkley to prove his professionalism

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has called on Ross Barkley to prove he is a professional and show his worth on the pitch after another compromising video appeared starring the former Everton midfielder. 

Barkley had previously hit the headlines for the wrong reasons in September when footage of the player arguing with a taxi driver was released. 

The brawl, apparently sparked over a spilled packet of chips, ended with the 25-year-old being escorted to an ATM by police officers, and earned him a scolding from Lampard. 

Now Lampard has once more been called upon to comment on the England international's behaviour after Barkley was filmed dancing topless in a nightclub in Dubai, where he was given permission to spend the November international break on leave as he looks to recover from injury. 

"I think there are two separate issues. One is the headlines this week, Ross knows how I felt about the first headline," the manager told reporters when questioned on the incident.

"I backed him then, I still back him now but he showed a moment of a lack of professionalism as far as I’m concerned. And it’s not something that I want to be a pure dictator on and come down hard because I also understand that all my players are humans and have lives and I don’t police every moment of their life.

"So I don’t think it’s a terrible thing that he’s done but all Ross needs to do now, he’s had an injury and he’s still kind of carrying the injury – he still gets a bit of pain on shooting – so he just has to work his way back in.

"In terms of the fitness thing, he trained well and I certainly don’t hold anything against my players.

"I like Ross, he’s firmly one of my players and I think it was something he needs to show all his reactions on the pitch."

Chelsea are back in action on Wednesday in what could prove to be a crucial Champions League fixture. 

In the penultimate round of the group stage the Blues visit Valencia, with both sides as well as current leaders Ajax deadlocked on seven points each. 

Victory for Lampard's men by a two-goal margin or more would ensure they finish above Los Che and reach the last-16, while defeat would take qualification out of their hands and needing Ajax to drop points against Lille and Valencia in their final two outings.

Chelsea will go after Chilwell in January

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Chelsea are believed to be interested in signing ​Leicester's Ben Chilwell in January if their transfer ban is overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

FIFA handed the Blues a two-window ban for a breach of regulations relating to the international transfer and registration of players under the age of 18 and the London club have already seen an appeal rejected by the governing body earlier this year. Meanwhile, Chelsea's current appeal to CAS isn't due for a verdict until next month.

It's a situation that Chelsea boss Frank Lampard might have been stressing a little more about if his side hadn't of made such a brilliant start to the season, however, it's believed that the west Londoners are targeting a long-term replacement for Marcos Alonso at left-back - with Chilwell top of their list.

Both Manchester clubs are also monitoring Chilwell's situation at the King Power, but according to the Evening Standard, the Foxes are confident of keeping the England international until at least the summer. The club value the 22-year-old at around £60m and after tying the full-back down to a long-term deal last October, are in a strong position when it comes to negotiating with other clubs over his transfer.

Lampard bemoans "small details" that cost the blues against City

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has bemoaned the "small details" as he saw his side fall to Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad on Saturday. 

The Blues had won their past six Premier League games and took an early lead through N'Golo Kante before goals from Kevin de Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez gave Pep Guardiola's side all three points. 

The result sees City leapfrog Chelsea into third on the table with Lampard of the belief his side were only undone by the minor details against a side as clinical as City. 

"We were controlling the game, we were playing some great stuff and we felt in control but you can’t be absolutely in control against Manchester City," Lampard told Match of the Day. 

"It was bad luck for their first goal, and absolute quality from Riyad Mahrez for the second and that changed the game.

"Maybe we were a bit slow with our movement at the back, I know we were giving them a good game but I am disappointed with the small details.

"If you look at City they are an example, and we’re at the absolute start of that process. A few of our players were in the Championship, but we want more."

At the Etihad on Saturday, the Blues boasted more possession than City as Guardiola's men recorded the lowest possession stats of any side ever managed by the Spaniard.

Chelsea's last league loss came at the hands of league leaders Liverpool and Lampard believes his side are measuring up well against two teams that have established themselves as title contenders over the past few seasons. 

"Everyone seems slightly fixated on those couple of games we’ve played, like Liverpool and City. We have gone toe for toe with them, drawing in Istanbul and then losing on penalties," Lampard said in his post-match press conference. 

"Lost at home in the league pushing for 45 minutes. We have lost today with a very good performance, it is moments in the boxes. That is not something you can actually put down as a rule going into a game of why you win it or don’t.

"These teams like Liverpool and City have been getting results for a long time, they have worked together and worked hard, they get things right.

"Today I don’t think you can come away from that game and think anything other than it was two really strong teams going against each other. One wins it because of a deflected goal and one moment of real quality from Mahrez and the rest was pretty much in the balance."

Kante rejected a move to PSG

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has revealed the reasons behind his decision to reject a move to Paris Saint-Germain, insisting he is happy and settled in west London.

PSG have been consistently linked with a move for the 28-year-old over recent seasons.

As reported by Goal, the French champions were ready to launch a bid for the midfielder in July 2018 in wake of his impressive displays for France during their successful World Cup campaign in Russia.

Chelsea were reluctant to consider any offers for the player, who was likely to cost in excess of £100 million ($132m).

The Blues even offered Kante fresh terms worth around £260,000 a week in a bid to ward off potential suitors, with the player eventually signing a new five-year contract in November 2018, committing him to the club until the summer of 2023.

That only temporarily put a stop to the rumours, with PSG reportedly ready to make a renewed bid to sign Kante over the summer.

The former Leicester player admitted he had the opportunity to move to the French capital but insisted he was settled in London.

“Sometimes we do not necessarily know where we want to go. But we know what we have. I know I was in Chelsea and I was good there,” he told Canal Plus.

“If I did not want to come to PSG it was more a sporting choice. I felt good in London, in the project and I was happy to stay there.”

Zouma & Tomori partnership questioned

Antonio Rudiger is Chelsea's "best natural defender", according to Tony Cascarino, who thinks Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma have struggled to convince in his absence.

Chelsea's five-match winning streak in the Premier League came to an end on Saturday, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Blues started the game well and took the lead through N'Golo Kante, before lapses in concentration at the back allowed the reigning champions to get back into the game.

Goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez shortly before half-time ensured City moved up to third, while Frank Lampard's men dropped into fourth, 11 points behind leaders Liverpool.

Chelsea have now conceded 19 goals in 13 Premier League fixtures, more than any other side in the top six - a record which Cascarino attributes to a Rudiger-shaped hole in the defence.

The former Blues forward has not been encouraged by Tomori and Zouma's partnership in recent weeks, as he told TalkSPORT: "I think there’s a lot of learning to be done with Tomori and Zouma.

“They’re a partnership that Frank trusts, but there are mistakes there too regularly.

“They’re both young men in the early part of their career, but big clubs don’t allow you to go through this period of indifference.

“They miss Rudiger enormously, because he is their best natural defender.”

Abrahamovich still actively involved at Chelsea

Roman Abramovich remains “intimately involved” at Chelsea, says club chairman Bruce Buck, with the Russian set to fend off any investors who believe a “bargain” bid could land control of the Blues.

Questions have been asked of a billionaire owner at Stamford Bridge in recent times.

The elaborate spending which accompanied Abramovich’s arrival in west London back in 2003 has been reined in over recent years, while the 53-year-old attends fewer games.

Part of the problem has been visa issues in Britain, with a man born in Saratov having to take Israeli citizenship in May 2018 in order to remain hands-on in England.

Buck considers that to be another show of commitment from an owner who has seen sale talk rage at regular intervals.

Abramovich has been prepared to listen to offers, but has no desire to part with Chelsea and will remain at the helm for as long as he retains the appetite to keep leading the club forward.

Blues chairman Buck told The Guardian of the takeover rumours: “I have never heard a word from Abramovich: 'Let's get this ready for a sale,' or something.

“Because of the political situation, there are people who think they might want to buy Chelsea at a bargain. We do get inquiries and we really have nothing to say to these people.

“In terms of being involved, in looking at new players, talking about whether to extend players' contracts... [he] was always intimately involved in that from day one and is just as intimately involved now.”

Abramovich’s hands have been tied at Chelsea of late by a two-window transfer ban imposed by FIFA.

They are hoping to see that embargo lifted on appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but have benefitted from being unable to add to their squad.

Buck admits as much, saying of the faith Frank Lampard has placed in promising academy graduates: “The transfer ban has led to more opportunities for the young players.

“I can’t deny that if there wasn’t a transfer ban we might have splurged out on one or two or three players. So, yes, it was some of that; it was Frank Lampard, the players that were ready, a whole collection of things that resulted in where we are now.

“It makes Mr Abramovich very happy, because he is very interested in the academy. I would guess he’s one of the very few owners that have been to lots of academy matches.

Frank Lampard admits Chelsea are “slightly ahead of the curve”

Frank Lampard admits Chelsea are “slightly ahead of the curve” as his youthful Blues squad continue to exceed expectations in 2019-20.

Having been stung with a two-window transfer ban and seen Maurizio Sarri leave for Juventus, those at Stamford Bridge found themselves facing up to an uncertain future.

Assistance and inspiration was sought from a club legend, with Lampard brought back to familiar surroundings over the summer.

With his hands tied when it comes to recruitment, the Blues icon took the decision to place considerable trust in promising academy graduates.

That faith has been richly rewarded, with the likes of Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount starring on the Premier League stage.

It has not been completely smooth sailing for Chelsea, with a 2-1 defeat suffered in their most recent outing away at Manchester City, but Lampard’s side are sat inside the top four.

That is considered to be positive progress, with their relatively inexperienced coach telling the Blues’official website of a team that remains on a steep learning curve: “It’s hard to explain my expectation at the start of the season, because until you’ve worked daily with the players – and you bring players who were playing in the Championship last year and younger players that have never been here – you don’t quite know how that’s going to drop and how it ends up.

“I’ve been really happy with a lot of our stuff this season, so maybe that means we’re slightly ahead of the curve.

“But in football, the curve will go downhill very fast if you don’t keep on yourself and take a lot of the lessons from this game and move forward. Now our test is: can we really bounce back from a defeat when we’re used to winning? That’s another challenge for us all.”

"It is a must-win."

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta believes Wednesday's meeting with Valencia is a "must-win" game, with N'Golo Kante also recognising the importance of the encounter as the Blues look to reach the Champions League knockout stages.

Frank Lampard's side are locked in a three-way battle to qualify from Group H, with the Stamford Bridge outfit tied on seven points with both Valencia and Ajax.

Victory at Mestalla would put Chelsea on the cusp of the last 16 and help put to bed the hurt felt on matchday one when the Spanish side left west London with a 1-0 win.

And Kante, who opened the scoring as Lampard's team slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Manchester City on Saturday, insists another defeat could be critical for his side's chances of European success.

"It is another important game. Maybe this is it for the qualification in the Champions League. We need to rest a bit and focus on Wednesday," Kante told reporters.

"Of course, of course, [we mustn't lose]. Three points are needed for the Champions League game and we need to be ready for this game.

"They won [at Stamford Bridge], it was like this, but now we all have seven points and it is really important for us to win and we are going to work for it."

Azpilicueta echoed the thoughts of the talismanic central midfielder as he prepares to return to his homeland for the crucial midweek fixture.

"It is a must-win. We have a great chance to really close the qualification for the next stage," he said.

"We have to take the game like a final because we can qualify there. We play against a good side that beat us at the Bridge in the first game.

"So we have to recover well from the game. Our heads have to be ready for that game because it is a final.

"When you are at Chelsea every game is important. Every game you have to go to win and that's the mindset for the next game."

Kante hopes "injury problem" are behind him

N'Golo Kante is hoping that his injury problems are behind him after scoring in Chelsea’s 2-1 defeat at Manchester City on Saturday.

The France midfielder has made just six appearances in the Premier League this season after encountering a series of setbacks from a summer knee injury.

However, after playing 90 minutes in Chelsea’s last two games, and featuring for his country during the international break, Kante is now keen to press on for the rest of the campaign.

"I feel fine,” said Kante at the Etihad Stadium. “I have a good feeling on the pitch. I went to the national team and it was good for me. I hope the difficulties have ended and I can keep giving my best for the team.”

Kante opened the scoring at the Etihad before goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez earned City the points to leave Chelsea on a run of five successive defeats against ‘Big Six’ opponents.

Though the Blues have been competitive in all of those matches, Kante believes Frank Lampard’s side need to show greater belief to turn losses into wins.

"We are a little bit disappointed," he added. "We wanted to come for the win to keep our run going and to stay second in the table. I think it was a difficult game and we know City are a good team. We can be proud of what we did and we need to keep going for the next game.

"I think we had our chances. We could have scored to equalise but I think we are playing against a strong team. It was difficult, it was tight and they won. It is what we want. We want to fight against every opponent. We gave our best. Even Liverpool was a tight game.

"This is the way. We need to believe that we can compete against everyone in the league and give our best to see what we can achieve this season. I think they have played together for a long time with the manager and players.

"We can feel that they have a lot of ways to play together. They gave us many difficulties in their counterattacks. I think we could have done better in some ways but, in the end, it was a tight game."

ManCity 2-1 Chelsea

Manchester City came from behind to claim a valuable 2-1 win at home to Chelsea and move up to third in the Premier League table, although Saturday's victory was marred by injury concerns for Rodri, David Silva and Sergio Aguero.

N'Golo Kante marked his 150th Chelsea appearance with a deserved opening goal, before City hit back to lead at the interval thanks to Kevin De Bruyne's deflected strike and a fine solo effort from Riyad Mahrez.

City lost at title rivals Liverpool in their last game before the international break but crucially got back to winning ways despite a strangely low-tempo performance at the Etihad Stadium, where three key players limped off during the second half.

Defeat for Frank Lampard's side ended a six-game winning streak in the league and denied the Blues the chance to set a club record of eight straight victories away from home in all competitions.

Chelsea were the better side initially and opened the scoring in the 21st minute, Kante bursting through a gap in City's defence to meet Mateo Kovacic's lofted pass, hold off the challenge of Benjamin Mendy and squeeze a clever finish past Ederson.

City were soon level, though, De Bruyne equalising against his old club when he sold Jorginho a dummy and saw his shot take a decisive deflection off Kurt Zouma, and they led before half-time.

Mahrez collected the ball in the right channel, skipped inside away from Kovacic and Emerson Palmieri and fired a superb low shot through the legs of Tomori to beat Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Chelsea were fortunate not to be 3-1 down at the break, Kepa's loose pass presenting Aguero with a clear sight of goal that the striker wasted by hitting the crossbar.

City lost Rodri and Silva after the break, prior to Kepa making a fingertip save to deny De Bruyne his second, while Aguero also hobbled out of the action to join City's growing injury list.

Ederson made a brilliant flying save to keep out Willian's drive, though a goal kick was incorrectly awarded, and substitute Mason Mount curled a late free-kick wide before Raheem Sterling had a third for City disallowed for offside by VAR.

"It is quite similar, but is too early,"

Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the similarities between his early days at Barcelona and the bright start Frank Lampard has made to his reign at Chelsea.

Lampard left Derby County to inherit the managerial reigns at Stamford Bridge at the start of July, succeeding Maurizio Sarri in the hot seat after his move to Juventus.

The Blues legend had to make do with the squad at his disposal due to a FIFA-imposed transfer ban over the summer, welcoming back Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount from loan spells while promoting several other academy stars into the senior fold.

Chelsea failed to hit the ground running at the start of the 2019-20 campaign, picking up just two wins from their first six Premier League fixtures, but their fortunes have improved considerably since the end of September.

Lampard's men have won their nine of their last 11 matches across all competitions, including five on the bounce in the league, to rise to third in the top-flight standings.

Chelsea have the opportunity to open up a four-point gap between themselves and reigning champions Manchester City in fourth when they travel to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night .

Comparisons have been drawn between Lampard's early success at the Bridge and Guardiola's at Barcelona back in 2008, where the Spaniard moulded a team widely regarded as one of the best in history.

Guardiola addressed those similarities at a press conference on Friday, insisting his opposite number is well placed to enjoy the same kind of success at Chelsea.

"It is quite similar, but is too early," he began. "He [Lampard] has been a manager for a year-and-a-half and I am a little longer because I am a little older but he has his future in his hands. Experience doesn’t count much.

"I would say that when you know the club it is a good advantage and Lampard knows Chelsea perfectly - media, fans, players - that is good. When I arrived [at Barca] not many people trusted me. Few, few people. Maybe the president, sporting director and not many.

"Frank was similar at Derby. He didn’t take results and people said he didn’t have experience. When nobody trusts you it is perfect because you win every game - you cannot lose more. The problem is when you have won titles and nothing is enough."

Guardiola added: "In Frank's case, it is perfect, an ideal situation. At the big clubs, you have incredible players so it is easier to do a good job in Chelsea or Barcelona than another club.

"If you work a lot and have patience, the results and success can come."

Lampard would never manage Tottenham

After a poor start to the season, Spurs sacked Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday,announcing Mourinho's arrival less than 12 hours later.

Lampard played under Mourinho in the manager's two spells at Chelsea, winning back-to-back Premier League titles during the Portuguese's first stint at Stamford Bridge.

During his time at Chelsea, Mourinho stated he would never join Spurs, but Lampard holds nothing against his former manager for signing up with another London club, even if the Spurs move is not one he can envisage making himself.

"I can firmly say no," Lampard told a news conference when asked if he would ever join Tottenham. "You can replay that in 10 years. I was here for 13 years as a player, have a deep feeling for the club.

"That's no disrespect to Tottenham, I have a lot of friends who are Tottenham fans and Arsenal fans, but sometimes there are feelings which mean you just wouldn't do it. Not disrespectful to the club, but because of what Chelsea has given me as a player and now, it's something that is certainly not on my list.

"That's only [Mourinho's] decision and you only make that decision as you go. Jose has managed a lot of football clubs over a long career.

"That's his decision, whether fans judge him or not for it is something that's out of his hands. As a professional, you have to understand a right to work but we do have this tribal instinct in this country where fans react to it."

Pulisic fit to face City

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has revealed that Christian Pulisic is fit for the Blues’ Premier League clash with Manchester City, despite not featuring for the USMNT over the international break.

The 21-year-old started and scored in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace just before the lull in club football but was withdrawn with 10 minutes remaining.

And Lampard has revealed that the reason for the young winger’s substitution was down to an injury, but that he has been recovering well ahead of the crunch match with the reigning league champions.

"He didn't go [to the US camp], he was struggling against Palace. He has been training and is in contention," Lampard told a news conference on Friday.

Lampard’s selection headache does not end with Pulisic, as the Blues have three central midfielders in N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho that have all impressed this term as Chelsea have risen to third in the Premier League.

"I want it to be a positive issue. It is great for me. It is something we have done pretty well - we have had fluidity in our midfield. We can use them all collectively," he added.

"You have to give Jorginho the freedom to leave his position. He has a perception for the press.”

Lampard is also pleased that his side find themselves above Pep Guardiola’s City in the league standings but is not content with what the Blues have achieved so far and insists that last season’s domestic treble winners can be beaten, despite their strength.

"The levels they have reached have been incredible. For us to be in that position, I am pleased with. But I want more," he said.

"It's not the end story, they are a strong outfit. I won't make huge judgements on tomorrow, our story is three months in the making.”

AC Milan show interest in Giroud

AC Milan have become the latest club to show an interest in signing Chelsea's wantaway striker Olivier Giroud.

The France international has seen himself fall down the pecking order under Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge, a position that puts his place in France's Euro 2020 squad under threat. 

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That has seen the 33-year-old linked with a move away in January, with several of Europe's top clubs linked with an interest in the former Arsenal and Montpellier forward.

And according to Sky Sports Italia, via Football Italia, Giroud is wanted by Milan, who are ready to rival Inter for his signature.

The Rossoneri have been trying to tie up a deal to bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic back to the club, but are still looking at other options.  

Lampard still takes offence to one of Mourinho's old comments

The Blues boss holds huge respect for the manager who helped him reach a world-class level but he still takes issue with one of his old comments

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Frank Lampard says Jose Mourinho was wrong to say that his Chelsea legacy was tarnished by joining Manchester City in 2014, but he holds no grudge with his former boss.

Mourinho stole the headlines this week when he took over Tottenham - the fiercest rivals of Chelsea, where he goes down as the club's most successful manager.

While with the Stamford Bridge side, the Portuguese claimed he would never join Tottenham, comments that have resurfaced this week following his decision to do just that. And Mourinho's history has come under further scrutiny after he suggested that Lampard's Chelsea "love stories" were over when he netted against the club while playing with City five years ago.

Although he believes Mourinho was in the wrong to make such a statement, Lampard holds no animosity towards the ex-Real Madrid and Manchester Unitedmanager.

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“At the time I didn’t feel it was quite right, I have to say that. It was directly after the match and sometimes the emotions of the match can affect the comment or type of comment,” Lampard told reporters at Cobham Training Centre.

“The bigger picture on that one for me is the love story or not is probably always decided by the fans and the club. It has proven now I am here managing the club but even then I think a lot of people understood how I felt about Chelsea, always did, always will do, regardless of the year at Manchester City. I have got no problem with that.

"I think it was more a comment made in the emotions after the match. I think the reaction of me going to Manchester City, which was something I was concerned about after 13 years here.

“I wondered at 36 whether a year there was something I should take on because of what I feel about this club. And then my professional head, the challenge of it and the period I had where I wasn’t going to be playing before going to New York FC, all came together and made me take a decision which was quite tough at the time.

“But to see then the feeling I got from the Chelsea fans on that day was an emotional thing for me and it hasn’t stopped from that day.”