Good evening, Chelsea fans. Here are your evening headlines for Wednesday, November 18.
Lampard accepts he's made mistakes
It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Frank Lampard since his move into management, and the Chelsea boss admits his fledgling career in the dugout has been tougher than his years as a player.
The former midfielder is in his second managerial job, having started out with Derby County, and secured a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
However, the 42-year-old has explained how the challenges facing him in charge of Chelsea are very different to those during his playing career, telling Eddie Hearn's No Passion No Point podcast he has made a lot of mistakes as he learns on the job.
"The facts and reality are... I realise now it's much harder than playing in terms of it being all-consuming," Lampard said.
"The life of a manager is 25 people in the squad, staff in the building, problems with different departments. It's so far removed from football.
"When you work for your coaching badges, you have to put the time in. Then when you start doing it, you have to practise, you have to fail, get better, fail and have relationships with people you never had as a player.”
Havertz and Pulisic set to miss Newcastle trip
Chelsea will have to make do without Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic when they travel to Newcastle for their next Premier League game.
The Blues can temporarily move to the top of the table with a victory on, but will have to potentially make do without the pair for another week at least.
According to The Athletic, both are close to a return, with Havertz working on his fitness after a positive Covid-19 test and Pulisic still troubled by the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the previous three games.
Havertz is back in training and could be available for the Champions League meeting with Rennes on Tuesday, while the Blues are said to be reluctant to rush Pulisic back.
Lampard’s side are also likely to be without Thiago Silva after the Brazilian’s involvement in World Cup qualifiers in South America, but Ben Chilwell could be available despite picking up an injury on England duty.
Lampard call suggests possible Barkley return
Ross Barkley has been in fine form for Aston Villa since joining the Midlands club on loan from Chelsea, helping Dean Smith’s side earn league victories over Liverpool, Arsenal, and Leicester City.
This has not gone unnoticed by Lampard, who reportedly called the midfielder to congratulate him on his resurgence at Villa Park.
According to Eurosport, the Blues boss is ‘fascinated’ by the form of the former Everton man, who moved to Stamford Bridge during Antonio Conte’s time in charge.
The report claims the door will remain open for Barkley to return to west London, with the midfielder not thought to be among the players Chelsea are most desperate to offload.
Barkley has scored twice in five games for Villa, including a late winner at Leicester, and has recorded one assist for the club.
He played 21 times for Chelsea in the league last term, but a busy summer in the transfer market meant his chances this term were likely to be limited.
