Good evening, Chelsea fans. Here are your evening headlines for Monday, October 26.
Chelsea legend questions Lampard tactics
Alan Hudson has questioned Frank Lampard’s tactics for Saturday’s goalless draw at Manchester United.
Chelsea lined up with a back three at Old Trafford, playing a more conservative gameplan with N’Golo Kante and Jorginho in double pivot ahead of them.
The 69-year-old, who won the 1971 Cup Winners' Cup with Chelsea, believes that the approach stifled the threat from marquee summer signings Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
“Frank was desperate to stop conceding so set his stall out to do so, therefore not having a shot on goal at the other end for so long, and in 90 minutes less than any other match this season,” the former Blues midfielder told CaughtOffside.
“He has now got himself into quite a predicament and is ‘stuck in the middle’. After two 0-0s he’s put himself in a very tricky situation as to how to go about future matches. The creativity was clear – there was none, and the whole team were tuned into keeping a clean sheet as a defeat would have been harmful.
“The strange thing is, even though they’ve been disappointing in drawing 3-3 against West Brom and Southampton – not title-winning form – they would have been 3rd had they won. But that wasn’t his objective (against Man Utd) and he was fortunate that Solskjaer had the exact same idea.”
Former referee explains why Cesar Azpilicueta penalty appeal was waved away
Dermot Gallagher has elaborated on why Chelsea weren’t awarded a penalty in Saturday’s clash with Manchester United.
Cesar Azpilicueta appeared to have been manhandled by United defender Harry Maguire, prompting the game’s major talking point, with questions over VAR failing to intervene in on-field referee Martin Atkinson’s decision not to give a spot-kick.
"I think it’s solely because the ball is in play and he cleared it too quickly. I think he looked at it, cleared it very quickly and didn’t scrutinise it,” he told Premier League Productions (via The Mirror ).
"I think when you look at it in-depth, as we have, there’s no doubt whatsoever if Martin Atkinson is sent to the monitor I think he’d make a different decision.
"What I would say, even if he sticks with the on-field decision, it would be readily accepted more.
"It does raise a good talking point in so much as the one at half-time with [Marcus] Rashford was looked at a few times.”
Lampard outlines his biggest issue with VAR
Atkinson’s failure to go look at the pitchside monitor for a replay of the Azpilicueta incident is Lampard’s biggest qualm with the officiating at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Chelsea boss conceded that referees are susceptible to making mistakes, but questioned why the referee didn’t take another look at the flashpoint moment.
"It was a clear penalty,” Lampard said.
“Clear penalty. I didn't see it from where I was standing at the time and I know it's a hard call for the referee on the pitch but that's why we brought VAR into the game.
"VAR was very quick to dismiss it in my opinion. It should take time, the referee should watch the monitor. If he watches the monitor he has to give a penalty. It's very confusing in my opinion.
"There's a frustration at the fact when something moves seemingly in the right direction, we're all pretty happy with referees going to the monitor.”
