Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Wednesday, December 9.
Havertz delivers exciting statement
After Tuesday night's Champions League draw with Krasnodar, Frank Lampard spoke about Tino Anjorin after the youngster made his first senior start.
"In training he's shown since last season a real ability to step straight into the level," said Lampard.
"He showed it today, the way he moves the ball quickly and his physical attributes. He's had some fitness issues, it's a work in progress, but the more he trains with us the better he gets.
"With injuries we have, in short-term he will spend more time with us. He grew into the game as it went along."
Patrick Bamford makes major Chelsea claim
Patrick Bamford believes that Chelsea are the best team that he and his Leeds United teammates have faced so far this season after their 3-1 defeat to the Blues on Saturday evening.
Bamford scored the opener in the 3-1 loss, before Olivier Giroud, Kurt Zouma and Christian Pulisic wrapped up the three points for the home side. And the Leeds striker admitted afterwards that Chelsea impressed him.
“We nit-pick everything really. Our physical stats weren’t bad but Chelsea really outperformed what they’ve done the rest of the season, in terms of physically,” Bamford said on The Athletic’s Ornstein & Chapman Podcast. “Then obviously we know about Chelsea how good they are.
“I think that’s probably the best team we’ve played this year.”
Rio Ferdinand names key Chelsea player
Rio Ferdinand named Thiago Silva as Chelsea’s key player as Frank Lampard’s side look to prove their title credentials.
Chelsea signed Silva on a free transfer in the summer transfer window. The Brazilian has transformed the defence, forming an excellent partnership with Zouma that has led to nine clean sheets in Chelsea’s last 13 games in all competitions. And Ferdinand believes that Silva’s presence at centre-back could lead Chelsea to the title.
“Chelsea are on absolute fire, they're flying,” he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE. “Frank Lampard has got his team confident. If they go a goal down, it's not a problem.
“And who is at the base of that, the foundations of that, for me, it would have to be Thiago Silva.
“He has come in, shown his experience, played in big games all around the world and I think if they go a goal down and things aren't really ticking for them, he sits there at the back and everyone looks at him for that inspiration.”
He later concluded: “Listen, Chelsea are in it [the title race] and I think they are in it for the long-run. They are going to be there at the end.”
