Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard singled out two Chelsea players for their performance against Manchester United yesterday.
Carney Chukwuemeka joined Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher in midfield and impressed. Chukwuemeka showed a willingness to take the ball and move it forward.
Noni Madueke also looked sharp on the wing, and he gave the United defence a tough time. Lampard lauded both men for their showing despite the 4-1 loss.
Speaking ahead of their final game of the season against Newcastle United, Lampard said (via football.london): “I don’t want to go into individuals. I thought Carney did really well today coming into midfield with personality.
“It has been one of the harder parts of my job with the numbers in the squad the balance you know.
“Going with a team to win important games and working with the younger players who we haven’t seen before because normally there is a process and a pre-season. We haven’t had that time.
“I thought Carney did well. I thought Noni did pretty well again.”
Despite the promising individual performances, Chelsea lost 4-1 to United. It could have been more if not for Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Chelsea goal.
The Blues were porous and easy to play through. Lampard blamed the overall performance on a lack of fitness and motivation, but they looked tactically undercooked.
The lack of tactical cohesion allowed United to play through their lines. It did not help that the Blues lacked a defensive midfielder to screen opposition attacks.
However, the game showed that players like Madueke, Chukwuemeka, Lewis Hall and Enzo Fernandez are players to build around.
Chelsea are trying to sign a defensive midfielder and have set their sights on Manuel Ugarte from Sporting CP.
