Patience is a virtue for Limerick manager Lee
UNDER-FIRE CHELSEA BOSS HITS BACK AT NEGATIVE SPIN
CHELSEA boss Frank Lampard yesterday accused sections of the media of using ‘confirmation bias’ to stoke negativity among supporters as pressure mounts over his future.
Lampard is feeling the heat after five defeats in Chelsea’s last eight Premier League matches.
Ahead of tomorrow’s FA Cup fourth-round clash with Luton, Lampard took aim at some of the press coverage in recent weeks.
‘To be fair, I think (players’) confidence would be shot if they were to read some of the pieces you write at the minute,’ he told one reporter. ‘I read some of them and some of the confirmation bias you always reflect on games with, it’s almost like a social media pundit, trying to get a reaction in a negative way.
‘I also read the pieces when we were doing well and they didn’t go both ways. So for a journalist to be objective would be a big start. Because if the players do read it, I’d feel like that.’
Lampard’s comments came during a spiky press conference which included several difficult questions about the pressure he faced — and the names being linked with his job. He admitted it would be ‘nonsense’ to discuss next season.
He was also asked how he shuts out all the noise. ‘I don’t listen to it,’ he said. ‘It’s only everywhere if you want to go scroll through social media or something. I don’t do that.
‘I’m not stupid, I know the pressure that comes with managing a top football club but I only do my job. So it doesn’t matter to me.’
Lampard insisted ‘the pressure is fine’ and that this slump could prove the making of his squad.
He said: ‘I love the job and I love the fact that if there are tough times and you can fight your way out of them — I mean the players as well, because we are not firing — it’s the best feeling in football. It would make this talented squad.’
Lampard added: ‘You have to go into it wanting to handle pressure, wanting to handle success by being humble about it at all times. That’s why I am maybe a bit short with some of my answers to some people today. I know that some of the talk is nonsense, it’s only the action that matters.’
Lampard (right) revealed he has not sought advice from any of his former coaches but yesterday Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti offered his opinion. ‘Lampard knows better than me — or like me — the pressure every manager has,’ he said. ‘Whether you have good results or bad results, keep working. This is the best way. I think he has to be focused.’ Meanwhile, Lampard again called for patience with Kai Havertz after the 21-year-old’s struggles continued in the 2-0 defeat at Leicester on Tuesday. He said: ‘I could make lots of comparisons to players who were here at a similar age to Kai — Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah — who went away, took time and came back, and now they are Premier League legends. ‘I don’t want to build Kai up and put that pressure on him but there clearly has to be time given to young players who come to this league.’