A lack of energy, players not doing the basics while Hakim Ziyech ‘couldn’t be bothered’ to track back – pundits lay into woeful Chelsea after Man City defeat as Roy Keane insists Frank Lampard should be concerned as sacking managers is ‘in club’s DNA’
Chelsea’s performance against Manchester City was ripped apart by pundits while Frank Lampard was warned he should be concerned about his job after his side were well beaten by title rivals Manchester City.
Chelsea were 3-0 down at half-time after a woeful first period and eventually lost their fourth match in six, leaving them in eighth in the Premier League and seven points off leaders Liverpool.
The game was killed as a contest by two goals in three minutes from Ilkay Gundogan and Phil Foden, before the superb Kevin De Bruyne added a third before the interval.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard saw his side lose 3-1 to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge
Sky Sports pundits picked Chelsea’s performance apart after they were outclassed by City
Substitute Callum Hudson-Odoi scored in stoppage-time but the strike was little more than a consolation.
Sky Sports pundits Roy Keane, Graeme Souness and Micah Richards were extremely critical of Chelsea’s display and highlighted a number of issues which will cause concern for Lampard.
Souness said: ‘Lampard will be frustrated with some of the players he’s brought in. No one really passed the test. This is why he’s spending money, for the players to be a difference in the big games.
‘It’s hard to make judgement about players coming to our football. Thierry Henry didn’t have a great first year in England but look what happened to him.
‘But Ziyech was guilty of for the third goal because it was “I’m not bothered”. He didn’t do the basics. What does that say about him? That’s happened in training. In proper teams, that never happens. In teams that win big trophies, other players get after him. Even in training, they’d be told you don’t do that.’
Hakim Ziyech came in the firing line from Graeme Souness, who blamed him for City’s third
Roy Keane questioned Chelsea’s heart as he criticised their failure to run back and tackle
Keane added: ‘Over the course of the season every team has different spells. It’s a tough interview when you’ve been beaten heavily. What will probably frustrate him is for the money they’ve spent they don’t look any stronger than they did last season.
‘The bit I was scratching my head at is when players don’t run back or put a tackle in. Even (N’Golo) Kante making a mistake for the third goal. Players not sprinting back, I really don’t get that. Frank will be concerned.
‘He’s not going to throw players under the bus. He must be concerned by what he saw today – the attacking players, there was a lack of energy. When you’re losing 3-0 and you’re not putting in tackles.
‘You’ve got senior players out there. Thiago Silva, Kante, how they didn’t sort it out and start pulling people in when they’re under pressure. That would be the big concern for me.’
Richards concurred that Chelsea must be better if they want to challenge but believes the new arrivals need time to get up to speed with the Premier League.
He added: ‘I agree with Roy. I said it with Arsenal a couple of weeks ago – they do need time to settle in. They need at least a season. It was the first time (Hakim) Ziyech and (Christian) Pulisic started together. (Kai) Havertz has not played.
Micah Richards was also critical of Chelsea but believes their new signings need time to settle
Keane stated Lampard should be worried given Chelsea’s history of sacking managers
‘These players need time, it’s a difficult league. Man City have spent money. They’ve had time to build their team. There have been times when City have had bad games, it happens, but they need to get it right.’
Lampard came out with fighting talk after the defeat and vowed to look at himself – and Keane fears he could be the latest victim of the club’s trigger-happy owner Roman Abramovich.
‘The difference between Chelsea and other clubs is Chelsea don’t give managers time. It’s in their DNA and their history,’ he said.
‘But as much as it’s doom and gloom, a lot can change quickly. Chelsea want to win some games, they still have quality in the squad, but this run they’re on it’s a concern. They could be left behind.’
Chelsea face Morecambe in the FA Cup third round next on Sunday before a west London derby against Fulham at Craven Cottage on January 15.