Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TAMMY: I WANTED A CAV-A-GO HERO
Abraham planned to pick the brains of record PSG hitman Edinson at Stamford Bridge
TAMMY ABRAHAM is disappointed Chelsea did not buy Edinson Cavani as he wanted to “steal his ideas.”
But the Chelsea and England striker is thrilled at getting a much-needed week off to rest in the winter break.
And he insists both club and country will reap the benefits as he intends to come back “all guns blazing” from a sunshine break in Dubai.
Chelsea’s failure to bring in a new frontman means 15-goal Abraham is set to shoulder the burden for the Blues up front for the rest of the campaign.
He played through the pain of an ankle injury at Leicester where the visitors had Antonio Rudiger’s brace to thank for a point.
Fellow striker Olivier Giroud wasn’t even in the squad after failing to get a move and Ross Barkley replaced Abraham late on with Michy Batshuayi left on the bench.
It has left Abraham as Frank Lampard’s clear first choice up front after the club failed to land Uruguay striker Cavani when Paris Saintgermain refused to cash in on their record scorer.
“The players we were talking about coming like Cavani and other topclass strikers have been in the game for many years,” said Abraham. “It
would have been nice if he had come. He would have been someone I can learn off and steal his ideas to add to my own.
“It didn’t happen but it gives me that extra push and desire to claim my position and be the best I can.
“Playing for a club like Chelsea there is always going to be pressure. But I like the pressure and I play under pressure.
“For me it is about believing in myself and my abilities.”
Abraham (right, with Leicester’s James
Maddison) thinks a break in the sun can recharge his batteries and help shake off his nagging ankle problem. He also plans to reflect on his promising first half of the season in which he has scored 16 goals for club and country.
“I am definitely in favour of the break,” he said. “I can’t wait.
“It is needed really after a long hard first few months of the season. It is time to recover and get our bodies back to normal – it can help England too. It is our first time ever trying it and we are buzzing. “I need some sun and plan to put my feet up and relax in Dubai.
“We have time to reflect about football for a week and come back all guns blazing.
“Mentally and physically we all need this. It was getting to that point in the season where people start to get leggy and a few injuries come in.
“My ankle is still painful but sometimes as players you have to play through pain.
“The medicine started to wear off in the second half and I will take this break to recover.”
Abraham had a few sights of goal in the first half before the match exploded into life straight after the break when Rudiger nodded in Mason Mount’s corner for his first goal since 2018.
Leicester hit back to take the lead with goals from Harvey Barnes and Ben Chilwell.
But Chelsea got a deserved point when Rudiger buried a superb header from another Mount setpiece.