Frank fears burn-outs

FRANK LAMPARD was not going to hide behind a forgettable refereeing performance from Anthony Taylor nor was he going to bemoan a Chelsea procession to the treatment table.

VAR was used behind the scenes to rule on the final big controversy of the domestic season.

Arsenal keeper Emiliano Martinez came close to catching the ball outside his area (above) as Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham bore down on goal late in Saturday’s FA Cup Final, but the assistant did not flag and ref Anthony Taylor made no indication that he was talking to Stockley Park.

A spokesman said the video ref did look again at the incident and concluded the ball was inside the area, even though the keeper’s body wasn’t.

Mateo Kovacic’s two yellow cards were not assessed by VAR, as technology is only used to rule on fouls which might lead to a straight red.

Saturday. They lost the first leg 3-0. But Lampard, whose injury woes were added to by Mateo Kovacic’s red card on Saturday (above), believes even if Chelsea exit, the quick turnaround will put them at a big disadvantage.

He said: “Even in a worstcase scenario we don’t go through against Bayern, the 12th feels too early for me. The players need a break. That’s why we have pulled two hamstrings and had players pull out of the game before this.

“I’d like to think the Premier League would look seriously at that and hopefully give us a fair start next season. We deserve that as a Premier

League club competing in the Champions League. “I’m guessing when we start will be dependent on how we will go against

Bayern Munich. But I’m not forgetting the game against Bayern as that’s a big game.” It is understood clubs in European competition will have a staggered start, but should Chelsea lose to Bayern, September 12 is likely to be their opening fixture.

PEA SHOOTER Pierre-emerick Aubameyang makes it 2-1 PLENTY TO CHEW OVER Lampard was honest enough to admit that he needs to make changes to his squad