The dream of every top coach is to have a pool of talented players to select from whenever a match beckons and that is the dream Frank Lampard is living at Chelsea football club. During the post-match news chat on Sunday, the manager admitted that he is having selection problems.
The former England international stated this while acknowledging the brilliance of Christian Pulisic who came into Chelsea‘s match against Aston Villa on the 55th minute and became an instant hit for the club that was trailing.
Chelsea restarted the season that has been on suspension since March 13 on almost a losing note when they ended the first half of the match 1-0 courtesy of the 43rd-minute goal of Villa’s Kortney Hause. The goal of House didn’t justify the tempo of the game because Chelsea was the most impressive team but couldn’t convert their chances to the much-needed goals.
When the proceedings resume for the second half, Frank Lampard was condemned to do something extraordinary to change the look of the game. This was necessary because a loss would have put more pressure on them as occupants of the 4th spot on the league table.
Hence, the Chelsea coach introduced Christian Pulisic, an American soccer star who is gradually becoming a super sub at Chelsea. As Franky introduced him at the frontline; he also introduced
Ross Barkley and the game changed within 4 minutes.
From the blues, the captain of the side, Cesar Azpilicueta found his mojo and gave a pinpoint cross to Pulisic and the American soccer star made no mistake and ended it into the net to make it 1-1. In less than three minutes, Pulisic assisted Olivier Giroud who also made no mistake and buried the goal convincingly to give the visitors the desired victory.
The victory has further established Chelsea’s place in the top four on the league table as they are 5 points clear from Manchester United that are chasing the top four from the 5th spot.
Frank Lampard Says Pulisic is Top-Class
Frank Lampard attributed the instant impact Pulisic had in the game to the fact that “he was hungry” and the American star has trained well for the good game he had on Sunday.
“It is a difference between being a very good player on the flank and a top-class player”, Frank Lampard told pressmen after the match.
“With Christian and Ross [Barkley] they both have trained well, I have selection problems, good ones. I had them on my mind to come on early in the second half.”
Pulisic had already finished the job before the club’s top scorer Tammy Abraham was introduced into the match less than 10 minutes after the second goal. The English star couldn’t do much as the match ended 2-1.
Though fans believe that Chelsea needed to be defensively aware during matches, Frank Lampard argued that his team ought to have been more clinical.
“It was new to us. We moved the ball well, dominated but we need to be more clinical. I can give leeway on that because it has been a long time out”, Lampard added.
