Manchester United legend Gary Neville has opened up on the one big problem at Chelsea under Frank Lampard.
The counter-attack. Three of the four goals conceded at Old Trafford were as a result of the Blues over committing players, while Leicester City almost punished them for the exact same thing at the weekend.
However, Neville is of the opinion that Lampard doesn't need to change his approach and has urged the Blues head coach to pick up some structural tips from Manchester City.
"To coach attacking players is much more difficult than coaching defensive players," Neville said on Monday Night Football. "Because when you’re in defensive shape and you’re all set, I think most teams can find it quite simple.
"But I think being in shape when you’re in possession is something that’s really sensible. Manchester City don’t con us because we’ve seen it for three years but Kyle Walker plays so narrow in possession that he is almost in some ways a third [central] defender in a three at the back.
"When you think historically as a right back when you were younger you were always told if the opposite fullback goes, you just tuck right in and you’re a third centre-back. City do that in some ways, in a more proactive point of view because Kyle Walker goes into midfield.
"So does Zinchenko.
"They play like midfield players but they’re there to prevent the counter-attack. They almost have two walls. They have Fernandinho, De Bruyne and Silva and then they have another one or two fullbacks behind and then another two centre-backs.
"They’ve always got that in sustaining and attack and I think at the moment, it’s just a balance thing that you can see but they’re ever-changing players. Players can come back in.
"What I would say is [Lampard] is trying to change the way in which Chelsea play. The likes of Mount and Pulisic, they’re far more fluid than Chelsea have been in the past - Barkley [too]. I don’t think we’re going to suggest he’s going to come off that. He shouldn’t.
"Unai Emery last season, remember the first two games we had that debate around that they lost those two first games.
"Frank’s not had losses but he had an awkward first week. He should just continue to do what he’s doing but things like that, Willian should know that. He’s such an experienced player. He’s tucked in narrowly for managers over the last four years for Chelsea, why would he not do it for Frank?
"Do your job and that counter-attack might be prevented."
