Frank Lampard’s position as Chelsea manager will come under increased threat if they do not qualify for next season’s Champions League, according to reports.
The Blues have won just twice in the Premier League since Christmas Day and have seen their grip on fourth place slip with Tottenham, Sheffield United and Manchester United closing in.
Chelsea were beaten by United 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Monday night as Lampard’s side served up an abject performance that was typical of their recent struggles.
According to The Telegraph, the Chelsea hierarchy are now starting to raise questions over ‘Lampard’s management of his squad’.
It is thought Chelsea’s current run of home games, which included the defeat by United and the forthcoming visits of Tottenham and Bayern Munich, are viewed as crucial to the success of Lampard’s first season.
Despite having two weeks to work on the training ground, Chelsea again conceded soft goals with Anthony Martial and Harry Maguire heading home from inside the box.
It is thought a failure to correct their sloppy defending and woeful finishing in front front of goal has also been ‘damaging’.
It is also claimed Chelsea bosses are surprised Kepa Arrizabalaga was not recalled to the starting line-up for Monday night’s defeat after he was dropped following a series of poor displays.
It is feared keeping the Spaniard, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, on the bench will make it harder to sell him in the summer with Lampard clearly showing he wants another No 1.
Lampard persisted with Willy Caballero for the game against United, despite admitting Arrizabalaga had trained well during the winter break.
Frustration at his handling of Olivier Giroud, refusing to play the Frenchman despite Tammy Abraham’s injury and Michy Batshuayi’s poor form, has also been a source of discussion.
Giroud was close to leaving Stamford Bridge in January but a move failed to materialise after Chelsea failed to sign a replacement.
Failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League would not go down well with the hierarchy, it is claimed.
Source: Punch Newspaper
