Tag: Frank Lampard

The Americans Abroad Five: The low point for Christian Pulisic

It’s gone from bad to worse for the USMNT star

Christian Pulisic has hit the nadir of his club career.

Injuries have impacted the U.S. national team star far too often in recent seasons but when healthy, he’s pretty much always played.

Not anymore.

The culprit has ironically been Frank Lampard, the manager under whom Pulisic has had he most success during his time at Chelsea. This time around as caretaker manager, Lampard has played Pulisic in just two of his seven games in charge.

Pulisic was shut out again in both of Chelsea’s matches this past week, including a game in which he was a healthy scratch for a Premier League matchday squad for the first time this season.

How have things got this bad? Does the winger deserve to be benched so often? Let’s take a look to lead off this week’s Five.

Pulisic dropped from Chelsea squad for Arsenal match

Pulisic has seen the field in just two of Frank Lampard’s six games in charge

When Frank Lampard took over as Chelsea caretaker manager, there was some optimism that the appointment could boost Christian Pulisic in the middle of another tough year at Stamford Bridge.

Pulisic’s best time at Chelsea came when Lampard was previously in charge, and the USMNT star has spoken highly of the Chelsea legend in the past. But just like Lampard‘s overall tenure so far, Pulisic‘s time under the manager has been extremely not fun.

The latest low came on Tuesday when Pulisic did not even make the bench for Chelsea’s game against Arsenal.

There was no indication that Pulisic was injured. If the American was indeed not hurt, it would mark the first time all season he was a healthy scratch for a Premier League matchday squad.

Pulisic has not seen the field in four of Chelsea’s six games under Lampard and after falling 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium, Chelsea has lost all six of those games.

Overall this season, Pulisic has one goal and two assists in 27 games for the club, of which only 10 have been starts.

Following the Gunners match, Chelsea only has five games remaining this season, which, not coincidentally, is probably the amount of games Pulisic has remaining in his Chelsea career.

The 24-year-old is expected to be a part of a summer clear-out at Stamford Bridge after a hugely disappointing season for the club. Pulisic has one year remaining on his current contract.

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Is there a ball boy who wants to coach Chelsea the rest of the season?

This could, somehow, get worse before it gets better

Chelsea has had four coaches this season, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that Frank Lampard is probably the worst of the lot.

Sure, Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter didn’t exactly set the standard for success, (Bruno Saltor only had one game — a draw) but at least they got a couple results here and there.

Lampard, by contrast, has somehow managed to take exactly nothing from his first five games as Chelsea’s caretaker coach.

That’s right: Five games, five losses. One goal scored. Nine conceded.

This isn’t a vintage Chelsea by any means, but yikes.

Sure, there were a couple of games against Real Madrid in there, but it’s pretty hard to explain how Lampard hasn’t got one single point from Premier League games against Wolves, Brighton and, on Wednesday, a 2-0 home loss to Brentford.

“This is not a sob story but everything is going against us,” Lampard told BT Sport after the game. “That game was a clear one because even though we didn’t create big chances we were always control.”

Chelsea is in 11th place, closer to the drop zone than the top four. The Blues are on their worst run since 1993 in all competitions. After their 13th Premier League loss, they’re closing in on their record of 15 set in 1997-98.

For Chelsea fans, that is a sob story.

Lampard was only appointed until the end of the season but it’s worth wondering if he might be the second caretaker manager of a London side to be sacked before the end of the season.

At this point, it seems like anyone could do better: another assistant, the kit man, a ball boy. How can it be worse?

Actually, it could be! Of Chelsea’s six remaining games, four are against Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle — aka, the top four.

This could, somehow, get worse before it gets better.

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Frank Lampard is fine with Todd Boehly’s vicious team talks

Boehly reportedly called Chelsea’s season “embarrassing” in a dressing room talk

Frank Lampard doesn’t have a whole lot of agency this time around as Chelsea head coach.

His caretaker manager stint will be ending after less than two months, regardless of the results he achieves. That was always going to be case after a rough stint in charge of Everton followed his sacking as Chelsea’s permanent manager two years ago.

Lampard wouldn’t be able to protest much if, say, his club’s owner called his team’s season “embarrassing” in the dressing room after yet another loss. He’d probably just be out the door ever faster than already planned.

And so, Lampard was in front of the media on Monday defending Todd Boehly’s widely reported pep talk to Chelsea after Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Brighton.

Asked if he had a problem with Chelsea’s owners addressing the team in the locker room, Lampard said: “I am comfortable with that. There was maybe some criticism of our old owner (Roman Abramovich) and not coming to the game, which wasn’t always true, to be fair. But I think when an owner is very invested in their interest in the team and want to help and improve, it is their prerogative to have the input that they want.”

Boehly was joined by fellow board members Behdad Eghbali and Hansjörg Wyss after a defeat that took Chelsea down to 11th in the Premier League table.

Lampard, Chelsea’s third coach of the season, has started his brief stint with three straight losses.

One of those defeats was a 2-0 reverse at Real Madrid in last week’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg. Facing a daunting second-leg task at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, Lampard hit back at suggestions that Chelsea is “broken” at the current moment.

“We are not where we want to be. That’s clear,” said Lampard. “But I think the word broken is a bit much. The league position is a reality, and we are 2-0 down in this game. We have to work against that.”

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Chelsea turn back time as Frank Lampard appointed caretaker manager

For a limited time only, Lampard is back at Stamford Bridge

They say you can’t go home again, but if you’re Frank Lampard, you can at least stop by for a prolonged visit.

The former England midfielder has been appointed Chelsea’s caretaker manager, returning to the club where he spent around 15 years as a player and coach.

“We are delighted to welcome Frank back to Stamford Bridge,” co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said in a statement.

“Frank is a Premier League Hall of Famer and a legend at this club. As we continue our thorough and exhaustive process for a permanent head coach, we want to provide the club and our fans with a clear and stable plan for the remainder of the season. We want to give ourselves every chance of success and Frank has all of the characteristics and qualities we need to drive us to the finish line.”

Chelsea found themselves with a managerial opening after dismissing Graham Potter just seven months after hiring him to replace Thomas Tuchel. It doesn’t take a particularly robust memory to recall that Tuchel was himself sacked back in September as Boehly seemed to believe that cleaning house was essential after buying the club last summer.

Lampard will be the fourth person to act as Chelsea’s manager this season, following Bruno Saltor’s one-game role as an interim boss saw the Blues and Liverpool battle to a scoreless draw on Tuesday.

Lampard will hold the role through the end of the season, with Chelsea reportedly considering a list of candidates that includes Julian Nagelsmann (jobless after being shockingly fired by Bayern Munich), Mauricio Pochettino, Sporting CP manager Rúben Amorim, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Oliver Glasner and former Spain boss Luis Enrique.

Chelsea’s roughly one-and-a-half season run under Lampard from July 2019 to January 2021 was a decidedly mixed experience. In 2019-20, Lampard guided Chelsea to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League, an FA Cup final, and to advancement out of a potentially difficult Champions League group.

However, they were 33 points behind the Liverpool side that won the league, lost that FA Cup final to Arsenal, and crashed out of the League Cup (to Manchester United) and Champions League (after a 7-1 thrashing by Bayern Munich) earlier than the club had hoped.

The following season started off well enough, with just one Premier League loss in their first 11 matches and an emphatic first-place finish in their Champions League group. The wheels would fall off in December, though, with Chelsea taking just seven points from his final eight league matches in charge.

Lampard’s struggles would end up in sharp relief after his successor Thomas Tuchel would lead the Blues to a Champions League trophy and a climb back into the top four.

Opportunity for Pulisic

Chelsea were clearly hit-or-miss under Lampard, even if we’re being generous, but one player who thrived for at least part of his time in charge is Christian Pulisic.

In the 2019-20 season, his first following several seasons with Borussia Dortmund, Pulisic produced 11 goals and 10 assists. That made him Chelsea’s most prolific set-up man, and only Tammy Abraham scored more goals for the club.

That represents Pulisic’s best season as a professional, and his time in London since has largely been a pursuit of that kind of form and consistent place in a given manager’s team. Even under Lampard, it must be said that the 2020-21 campaign saw Pulisic score just two goals in 17 appearances across all competitions.

Still, a new manager is always an opportunity, and Pulisic will be looking to force his way back into more regular minutes. Whether his long-term future is with Chelsea or not, it’s a big moment for the U.S. men’s national team attacker.

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Frank Lampard says Anthony Gordon could be worth £100m. Let’s watch every goal he’s scored.

The winger has scored four goals in his pro career, and all but one were off deflections

Chelsea is making a major push for Anthony Gordon.

Everton has already rejected a £45 million bid for the winger, and this week he reportedly told the Toffees he wants to leave as Chelsea said it’s willing to pay up to £60m.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Everton head coach Frank Lampard denied Chelsea had actually tabled a £60m bid and expressed his belief that Gordon would stay at the club.

He also indicated that he believes the 21-year-old could, either now or in the future, be worth upwards of £100 million.

“I have been fortunate enough to work with fantastic young players in my time at Derby and Chelsea, seen them develop and become Champions League winners and worth maybe triple figures,” Lampard said.

“Anthony is in that bracket. He is ours, an Everton boy and the crowd relate to him.

“He is our player and remains so, he is in the squad for tomorrow. He is a huge player for us, I am not talking about a number [for a transfer].”

Gordon’s track record

It’s inarguable that Gordon isn’t nearly as accomplished as other players his age recently sold for a similar amount to the fees being bandied about, such as Kai Havertz, Jadon Sancho or Erling Haaland.

In 73 pro appearances so far, Gordon has scored four goals. And as the video below shows, two came from major deflections and one came when a teammate’s shot grazed him on its way into the net.

The numbers beyond goals paint a similar picture: Gordon isn’t producing anywhere near a player who could be worth nine figures.

In a more flattering compilation, the massive ability Gordon has is clear to see and of course, it’s also worth remembering that he’s still just 21.

But Gordon is not a £100m player yet, and it’s pretty clear he’s not even worth half that amount right now. It may be a good idea for Gordon to stay put and develop, rather than take a step up and be saddled with the expectations of a transfer fee he hasn’t quite justified yet.

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Everton’s humiliating loss to Minnesota United has Frank Lampard already talking relegation

Some preseason losses are more painful than others

There have been some predictable results over the past few days amid the annual tradition of European clubs fanning out across the U.S. to face MLS clubs during their preseason.

Barcelona beat Inter Miami 6-0. Bayern Munich defeated D.C. United 6-2. Arsenal beat Orlando City 3-1.

But not every game has gone according to script. Charlotte FC managed a 1-1 draw against Chelsea. And, incredibly, Minnesota United laid a 4-0 beating on Everton Wednesday night.

Everton manager Frank Lampard, who narrowly led his team to an escape from relegation last season, was understandably not pleased to see his side humbled by an MLS team in such a fashion.

“The players in the dressing room need to understand that they’ve put in a very poor performance individually and collectively,” he said after the game.

Such was the standard of his team’s display, Lampard was even ready to invoke the possibility of another relegation battle in 2022-23.

“The players have to work and understand we were in a relegation battle for a big portion of last season,” he said. “We had an amazing night (securing their Premier League status against Crystal Palace) and an amazing run, but as soon as that finished, I put it to bed very quickly, so the players have to put it to bed as well, because we were in that fight for a reason. And if we don’t want to be in that situation again, they have to be better and I have to be better.”

Everton lost its star Richarlison this summer, after the Brazilian joined Tottenham in a £60 million deal. The club has not yet brought in a replacement, which is causing a “void” according to Lampard.

“There is no doubt about it. When you think of where we were last year, we have lost a big player in Richarlison…we wish him well, but our club now continues,” Lampard said.

“We know there is a void in forward areas, we are short in numbers there. Also, through the team, there are things I want to strengthen, and I can be honest about that, because a club like Everton has to have a competitive squad.”

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Frank Lampard says MLS doesn’t get the credit it deserves in England

The ex-NYCFC midfielder and current Everton boss says many Brits don’t understand how strong the league is

Frank Lampard has said MLS doesn’t get the credit it deserves back home in England.

Lampard ended his illustrious playing career in the North American top flight, playing for New York City FC in 2015 and 2016 after a trophy-filled career spent mostly with Chelsea.

The ex-England star is now back in the U.S. as Everton manager, as the Toffees embark on a preseason tour that will see them face Arsenal in Baltimore on Saturday and then Minnesota United in St. Paul on Wednesday.

Lampard said it’s difficult to follow MLS closely nowadays due to the demands of his job with Everton as well as the lack of matches on English television, but says fans in the U.K. should give the league more respect.

“In England we don’t get to see a great deal of MLS,” Lampard told Pro Soccer Wire. “I feel fortunate I came to play here and realized the growth of the game when I was here playing.

“I think it has continued to grow, fans in the stadiums in MLS, the level of quality in MLS. In England it’s quite a dated view, like MLS is down here and European football is up here. Now that gap might take time to close but I think the football here is a lot better than people at home give it credit for.”

Lampard said that the league will continue to snap up its fair share of older European stars – a category he once fell under – including the recent signing of Gareth Bale, but said that the increasing quality of homegrown North American players is what will see the league truly thrive over the long term.

“I think the more important thing than the DPs (Designated Players), and it’s great seeing Gareth here, it’s great to watch, but the important thing for the league is growing from within,” Lampard said.

“When you look at the national American players now, [Christian] Pulisic, Tyler Adams and more traveling and playing in Europe and creating this great team, and they’re putting everything together. I think it shows you that it’s going to get much stronger. The talent is already here and the sport is growing so I only see it going in one direction.”

Emily Olsen contributed reporting to this story

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Frank Lampard is backing ‘special’ Christian Pulisic to thrive at Chelsea

“Those basics of the speed and balance is not [something] everyday players have. He’s special like that” 

Christian Pulisic faces plenty of competition for playing time at Chelsea, which was underscored this week when Raheem Sterling joined the club from Manchester City.

As transfer rumors around the USMNT star continue to swirl, is there still room for Pulisic at Chelsea?

His former manager Frank Lampard thinks so. 

“I think Christian can still be a big player for Chelsea, of course, a really big player, but that’s absolutely a question for the club and him,” Lampard told Pro Soccer Wire.

The United States men’s national team star signed with the London club for an American record $73 million in 2019. While Pulisic became a vital Chelsea player in Lampard’s second year at the helm, he has occasionally struggled with injuries and has been a sporadic starter under Thomas Tuchel.

“Christian needs to play games,” Lampard said. “I know what he’s like, he wants to play all the time. He’s had some injuries, I think it’s sometimes held him back at different times in his career. So I just hope we get the right solution. I have a lot of respect for Chelsea. It’s a huge club in my life and career. So I hope we get the best solution for both.”

During the 2019-20 season under Lampard, Pulisic started 19 of 25 games he played and scored 11 goals in all competitions, which is still the best scoring return he’s had with Chelsea.

Lampard, who currently manages Everton, believes the 23-year-old can match and even surpass that return in coming seasons because of his rare talents.

“I’ve got a lot of time for Christian,” Lampard said. “I think I worked well with him and just tried to develop him and had a really good relationship with him. He’s got incredible talent. He’s a great boy. I found him really pleasurable to work with as well as a talent.

“He’s really fast and [has a quick] change in direction and it’s balanced. He’s still a young player. It feels like he’s been around a long time because he broke through so young. So there’s still a lot to come from Christian, but those basics of the speed and balance is not [something] everyday players have. He’s special like that.” 

Pulisic and Lampard are both in the United States for preseason tours. Pulisic and Chelsea play Club America Saturday in Las Vegas. Lampard, who helped Everton stay in the Premier League last season, begins preparation for his first full season in charge with a friendly against domestic rivals Arsenal on Saturday in Baltimore. 

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