Frank Lampard says Chelsea had no say in the decision that saw their game against Fulham rescheduled and believes the Premier League must do more to liaise with clubs over potential fixture changes.
The Blues were due to travel to Craven Cottage this evening but will now take on Scott Parker’s side tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon. Kick-off is at 5.30pm.
The match was pushed back a day because Fulham were drafted in to face Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night. The two sides were due to face off on December 30 but an outbreak of Covid-19 in the Cottagers’ bubble resulted in the game being postponed.
Lampard insists he is understanding of the situation the Premier League face this season due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but he doesn’t feel enough is being decided in conjunction with clubs and pointed to Chelsea’s Christmas schedule, which saw the Blues play twice in 48 hours.
“We weren’t actually flexible [with moving the Fulham game], we were just told what the games would be so that wasn’t our flexibility,” Lampard said.
“My preference would have been to keep the game on a Friday but that was overruled and with Covid and the situation, I’m very happy to play fair with that.
“I understand it. It hasn’t killed us this weekend, the schedule hasn’t made us play two games in two days so I’m fine with that and we all have to try to and understand the situation.
“But, again, we weren’t looked after over Christmas when we could have been and, for me, the Premier League has to open the dialogue and there be much more discussion.
“It can’t be that you’re just told. It must be an open conversation and I understand Scott’s point being told two days before having to play in the Premier League. That, for me, really isn’t good enough.”
Chelsea’s preparations to face Fulham have not been impacted adversely by the decision to move the game; it has actually given Lampard almost a full week on the training pitches at Cobham to work with his side.
It does, however, mean the Blues have one fewer day to recover and prepare to face Leicester City on Tuesday night. A game that could have ramifications on who finishes in the Premier League top four come the end of the campaign.
Lampard does not have a major issue with the shorter turnaround for the game at the King Power Stadium, but says the lack of consistency over the fixture schedule will “put a mark” on the campaign.
“My biggest gripe as manager of Chelsea Football Club is that nobody came to help us when we played two games on the 26th and the 28th over Christmas when it clearly could have been moved,” he said.
“So the schedule couldn’t be moved over Christmas but it can be moved now because we’re fighting against Covid.”
Lampard continued: “Over Christmas, it was fine when we had to play twice in two days when Man United, Liverpool and Tottenham played twice over three days. It seems like consistency is going to be difficult and it will definitely put a mark on this season.
“Whatever happens, there are going to continue to be huge difficulties for different teams.
“I don’t want to cry too much from our point of view, but from our experience over Christmas to what is happening this week, I felt the Premier League could have done better to look after us – and Aston Villa – by moving the game and they didn’t.”
