Chelsea interim manager Frank Lampard has denied aiming a dig at former Chelsea manager Graham Potter after defeat to Brighton.
The Chelsea debacle lingered further under the watch of Frank Lampard after Graham Potter was sacked.
Frank Lampard, who was appointed as interim manager till the end of the season, seems to have failed to overturn Chelsea’s dwindling fortunes in the Premier League this season.
Three games incharge, the former Derby County boss has been winless and have suffered defeats in all three, including a Champions League defeat to Real Madrid and a shock home defeat to Brighton.
After the Brighton defeat, Frank Lampard aimed a dig at his sacked predecessor Graham Potter complaining his team were struggling with fitness.
While the Chelsea legend did not directly aimed a dig at Potter, his statements could be described as an affront to Graham Potter.
Speaking after the defeat to Brighton, Frank Lampard said,
“I think the team needs physical work.
“I think that’s important for us because at this level you have to be right on the limit and we are not on the limit right now. I think that can be a capacity thing with the players for whatever reason.”
Lampard’s particular sour remark which subtly blast Graham Potter for his handling of the team’s fitness reads;
“It doesn’t matter how we got there but it needs to be addressed now.”
Now, the Chelsea interim boss seems to have backtracked on his comments, denying claims he particularly tackled Graham Potter in his fitness remark which was laced with imperative tone.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference ahead of the crunch Champions League tie against Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge, Frank Lampard said he has always taken personal responsibility when he is in charge of any club instead of apportioning blames.
He denied the dig claim against Potter adding he has been misunderstood and taken out of context.
“No, I think that’s how you’ve taken it,” he replied. “I’ve always been big in football on personal responsibility, I’m not blaming anyone else for what I see now or what I’ll see in the future”.
However, Frank Lampard still maintained his imperative tone on the exigent need to address Chelsea fitness issues moving forward.
“It’s just something that we have to address now and address going forward because it’s a big part of the game. We’ll do a lot of work and delve into the data.”
Frank Lampard will take on Real Madrid in his fourth game as Chelsea interim manager. He is yet to salvage even a point for the club.
The Blues will host the reigning European champions in a game that will have a huge bearing on their hope for a place in European topflight next season.
Despite a dismal domestic campaign, Graham Potter led Chelsea to the Champions League quarterfinals but was axed after a home defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Former Spain manager Luis Enrique and recently sacked Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann were primed to take over from Potter before Chelsea ditched the plan of immediate appointment of a new manager and hire Frank Lampard on interim basis.
Frank Lampard full Real Madrid pre-match press conference
