https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/12/14/ frank-lampard-injury-updates-wolves-christian-pulisic Lampard reports positive Pulisic update and considers team's reaction 14 Dec 2020 Before departing for the West Midlands, Frank Lampard addressed the media at Cobham, explaining what his team must do to get back to winning ways and providing the latest on Christian Pulisic's fitness. https://i.imgur.com/dlmpvC8.jpg The American missed out on the weekend loss at Goodison Park due to a hamstring problem, but Lampard has confirmed he is in contention to play against Wolves. The boss also answered questions on Gerard Houllier, the possibility London is going into tier three and the title race, but it is his update on Pulisic we start with… 'He trained on the day we played against Everton and felt better,' reported Lampard. 'He's in the squad tomorrow and it's yet to be decided whether he starts or not. It's obviously positive news from the weekend.' Lampard considered how his team must react to the Everton setback 'The Premier League is unforgiving. You saw that with different results over the weekend. We weren't at our top level on Saturday and we got beaten. That's it. 'We've been on a long unbeaten run playing some really good football, as well as winning games. We dropped our level for a game. It's on us to pick up it again straightaway. https://i.imgur.com/vl4ZFvW.jpg 'It's important for us to stay in the race. When people were touting us as title contenders, after the Leeds game particularly, I felt it's a long race to win a Premier League. I did it as a player and I understand there are lots of elements of it. 'One of those is losing a game and trying to bounce back from it quickly which is what we need to do, and sustain performances and results over a period of time.' Lampard commented on speculation London is going into tier three and so fans won't be allowed at the Bridge 'Even though we are in tier two and we had fans for a game or two, I did feel it should be a level-playing field for fans. We have seen and felt the backing they give you and what it does to the game. 'I also think, and I'm not telling the Government what to do, we can really control 2,000 fans coming into a stadium. It's unfortunate to say the least. 'We are making up as we go along and that's not to be critical, it's just a fact. We have never been in this situation before. Clubs are showing they can control it and I would like to think there could be something done to get that 2,000 number in, but that goes above my station.' Lampard also spoke about Gerard Houllier following the sad news of his death 'I came across him on and off the pitch. He was always an absolute gentleman whenever I met him. Reading some quotes from people who knew him much better than me, that seems to be the resounding feeling. 'He was a great football person, very successful in his managerial career, a great person, and our thoughts and respect go to his family from myself and everyone at Chelsea Football Club.' --------------------------------------------------------------------------- https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/12/15/ lampard--the-league-is-tighter-so-we-have-to-keep-improving Lampard: The league is tighter so we have to keep improving 15 Dec 2020 Frank Lampard believes the unusual circumstances of this season, along with the improvement in quality and consistency of a number of our competitors, means the top of the Premier League will be more congested this campaign than it has been for many years. https://i.imgur.com/VK1OwtX.jpg Champions Liverpool have already dropped 11 league points, four less than they lost in the whole of 2019/20, while Manchester City, who won the title in the two preceding seasons, have been beaten twice and drawn on four occasions in their dozen games to date. Simultaneously, the likes of previous challengers Tottenham and Leicester City are enjoying strong starts, while Southampton, West Ham and Everton have offered the surprise element in the top seven a third of the way through this term. Lampard's Chelsea are currently fifth, albeit averaging a slightly improved points per game tally on last season's average and sitting just three points behind the joint leaders Tottenham and Liverpool, who meet this midweek at Anfield. For perspective, at this stage last season we were eight points off the early pace set by the Reds and, since last winning the title in 2017, we haven't finished closer than 30 points off the top. The Blues boss has admitted it is likely to require a lower points total than in previous recent seasons to lift the title this campaign and, even though he doesn't see his team as strong title contenders, he has urged the players to continue striving for improvement. 'That's just where we're at this season,' he said. 'We've seen the results and we felt it first-hand at the weekend with Everton. 'They have good players, they invested in the summer, they're a good squad, they were well-organised and they made it difficult for us. Watching the other games, you see that all over the place. Teams are strengthening and the league is getting tighter. 'I certainly felt our preparation into the season was slightly different so we've been a bit of a work in progress. We feel ourselves that we've already lost some points that we maybe wouldn't have done and everyone will feel that in their own way. https://i.imgur.com/afXLc4I.jpg 'I do think the level of the points will be less but we just have to try to make sure we maintain our levels and keep improving to stay in that.' There has been a significant about-turn in recent months from some pundits when analysing Chelsea's prospects for this season, with the criticism following high-scoring draws with West Brom and Southampton followed by a 12-match unbeaten run that was brought to an abrupt halt on Merseyside at the weekend. That upturn in form led to some categorising the Blues as serious title contenders but Lampard has maintained his position that in reality his side are probably somewhere in between right now. 'I just don't see it,' he admitted in response to claims that he has the strongest squad in the country. 'I'm not talking down my squad by saying that. 'Some people are saying we've got the strongest squad and we can swap players with no change but these are the same people who were saying those players weren't so good when we drew with West Brom and Southampton. https://i.imgur.com/fpYsvt8.jpg Good vibes in training as we prepare for Wolves 'The tide has turned pretty quickly but the conversation is pretty irrelevant because it's only what we do on the pitch that matters. I look around and see strong squads that have been winning things over the last few years and that are very stable. 'There are squads that can have one of the best players in the world sitting on the bench most games as their back-up and teams that have got Champions League winners throughout their squad. We're not quite there at the moment but we hope to get there. 'We've got some new players that have come in and people maybe want to look at the price tags but at the same time some of them are young players who are coming to play in this league for the first time and they clearly need a little bit of time. There are lots of elements to the squad. 'I believe we will improve, we are improving as it stands and I think we'll continue to improve but strong squads will only be referred to when you win something.' -- Hoddle: 'Matthew will be sitting up there looking down now and loving Chelsea being winners. He'll just love Chelsea winning.' --

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