BARKLEY’S BAIL-OUT
Ross saves the day for sloppy Chelsea
FRANK LAmpARd would have been forgiven for fancying a drop far stronger than water during a first-half drinks break that he would follow with a treble substitution at half-time.
That move proved a sober judgment and one that keeps alive the dream of a trophy in his first season back at Chelsea as manager.
‘Liven up,’ he had repeatedly screamed at his careless side, Lampard’s touchline animation in sharp contrast to the lethargy of his players. But if his interval intervention was intended to snap them from their slumber, then it worked, and for that he deserves credit.
Of course, the luxury of five subs FRANK MAKES THREE SUBS AND GIVES CHELSEA STARS A DRESSING DOWN AT HALF-TIME means a treble change is not the headline-making act of old — a la Jose mourinho in his early days at Chelsea — but Lampard’s decision changed the course of this contest, make no mistake.
It was fitting, then, that half-time arrival Ross Barkley emerged as the match-winner.
The finish was Lampard- esque, too, a ghostly drift into the penalty area climaxed with a first-time sweep into the bottom corner.
Barkley revealed later that, in a half-time blast, Lampard had told the team their display was not good enough for the Chelsea badge.
And it was encouraging when it became apparent that Lampard’s annoyance had barely cooled come the end, for he could have taken the easy option and used the result to mask their earlier shortcomings. That he did not tells us much about Lampard the manager enforcing the standards he set as a player.
‘ There were a few words at half-time,’ he confirmed. ‘The first half was not what we are used to in terms of our performance. We lacked urgency and intensity, we seriously lacked it.
‘I made three subs but it could have been more. I made the changes I did for impact and to inject some personality. We haven’t played that badly since I’ve been here.
‘The subs changed the game and it was better, but it still wasn’t good enough. I’m sorry if I sound too down, I am very happy we are through.’
Lampard loved the FA Cup as a player, his four winners’ medals out-numbering his return in any other competition.
And so does Barkley, this being his third goal in the Cup this season. It was also a timely reminder of his worth with the club’s recruitment drive in attacking areas showing no sign of letting up.
Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech will join next month and already Chelsea’s players are competing for places ahead of next term.
Not that you would know it based on that first- half performance. Indeed, the visitors would have been better served using the
mid-half hydration break for an impromptu passing drill.
Instead, Lampard was seen giving particular instruction to Billy Gilmour, the 19-year- old midfielder making just his fifth senior start and of whom so much is expected.
Gilmour, though, had been Leicester’s most creative player, so errant was he in possession. His first wayward pass — inside 20 seconds — should have led to a Harvey Barnes goal but his touch was just as clumsy inside the penalty area.
At least Chelsea’s passing was entertaining, albeit from a comedic perspective. Lampard did not see it that way and, after one Antonio Rudiger cross-field attempt had landed in the low rows, the manager spun on his heels in disbelief. Already, you suspect, he was plotting the treble change.
That his side made it to half-time at 0-0 owed much to Leicester’s own struggle in the final third.
Gilmour was again the inadvertent source when his sloppy ball found Youri Tielemans and the Belgian burst forward before drawing a low save from Willy Caballero. It was no surprise when Lampard withdrew Gilmour at the break, along with Reece James and Mason Mount, making it a trio of young players who the boss says he will speak to in the coming days, although he insists he has no issue with any of them.
Rather, Lampard’s changes were for the necessary benefit of the team and, come 63 minutes, he had his reward when Barkley connected with Willian’s teasing centre to guide beyond Kasper Schmeichel.
‘I played with Ross and I know he’s a great lad,’ said Lampard. ‘He wants to be the best he can possibly be. His attitude has been spot on since we came back and he’s made an impact in every game. He can score, he’s good with both feet and makes the box. I’ve got lots of time for Ross, he’s a big player for us.’
Lampard’s opposite number Brendan Rodgers could certainly do with some of his big players emerging in the coming weeks.
He is now without a win in 15 attempts against Chelsea, the club where he worked as reserve-team boss while Lampard was a player.
His side have failed to score in five of their last eight matches and, while they huffed and puffed in the second half, they never really looked like equalising.
There is talk of a spike in coronavirus cases in Leicester perhaps forcing the club to see out the season at neutral venues. On this evidence, a change of scenery may be worth a try. For Lampard, meanwhile, it is back to the familiar surrounds of Wembley.
LEICESTER (4-3-3): Schmeichel 6; Justin 6, Evans 6, Soyuncu 5.5, Chilwell 7; Praet 6 (Choudhury 58min, 6), Ndidi 6, Tielemans 6.5; Perez 5 (Albrighton 58, 5), Vardy 5, Barnes 6 (Gray 76). Subs not used: Ward, Morgan, Bennett, Fuchs, Mendy, Iheanacho. Booked: Soyuncu. Manager: Brendan Rodgers 6. CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Caballero 6; James 5.5 (Azpilicueta 46, 6.5), Rudiger 6, Zouma 6, Emerson 6; Kante 6, Gilmour 5 ( BARKLEY 46, 7.5); Willian 7 (Pedro 78), Mount 5 (Kovacic 46, 6), Pulisic 6.5 (Loftus-Cheek 72, 6); Abraham 6. Subs not used: Kepa, Giroud, Alonso, Jorginho. Scorer: Barkley 63. Booked: None. Manager: Frank Lampard 8. Referee: Mike Dean 7.