GLUT FEELING

Lampard ready for more crazy scorelines and bucketloads of goals

FRANK LAMPARD is braced for a whole season of crazy results and huge scorelines.

C h e l s e a h av e a l re a dy scored 13 and conceded nine in just five matches in what i s shaping up to be a record-breaking Premier League season.

Th e Blu e s st ar t th eir European campaign tonight against Sevilla with Lampard convinced it is far from being a coincidence. And that there is reason behind the goal-fest.

A lack of preparation with a disrupted pre-season, a crowded fixture list and, perhaps the biggest factor of all, no fans in the stadiums which takes away home advantage and s ma l l e r t e a ms n o longer fear going to the big grounds.

Chelsea boss Lampard said: “In the Premier League so far, in terms of why we’re seeing so many goals, I should talk about ourselves on this one.

“There has been a lack of preparation.

“If you have brought players in or are working on changes in the squad or set-up, then it’s a lot for new players to take on board and get used to. There’s an element of that for everybody. “T h e re’s b e e n a change on that with

t h e n u mb e r of goals and the results that we are seeing. The lack of fans is a contributing factor.”

Lampard has already built one of the most attack-minded teams in the Premier League and this summer’s signings, Timo Werner, erner, Kai Havertz and Hakim kim Ziyech, have given them hem even more options.

But Lamp Lampard ard rejected ed th the notion that he is an attacking acking manager. r.

He says he wants to find the right ght balance and accepted ed that they y have not

Tonight: Sevilla (h)

Oct 28: Krasnodar (a)

Nov 4: Rennes (h)

Nov 24: Rennes (a)

Dec 2: Sevilla (a)

Dec 8: Krasnodar (h)

F ACTS

This will be the first everer European clash between Chelseaa and Sevilla. Chelsea have won justt one of their last nine UEFA Championspions League matches against Spanishnish opponents (D5 L3), a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid in Septemberptember 2017. Sevilla have won each of their last three major UEFA European opean matches against Englishish teams, beating Manchester United in 2018 in the Champions League,ue, and Wolves and United again this year in the Europa League. been good enough defensively. Chelsea have conceded 63 goals in Lampard’s 43 games in charge as manager. But he pointed out they have conceded the second fewest number of shots – and yet have still let too many in. It would not take a genius to understand understan goalkeeper Kepa Arrizab Arrizabalaga’s role in that. Lamp Lampard said: “In term terms of the goals conceded, yes I am aware of th e st stats. ats. B But we have conceded the second least shots in the Premier League behind Manchester C i t y, so sometimes it helps you to narrow down some of the issues.

“O f c ourse we want to concede less goals. It will always be something we work on as well as our attacking play.

“Every manager wants to build a balanced team and one that can be strong i n both defence and attack.

“Things like Southampton at the weekend was a lesson to be learned in real time because we don’t have so much time with the players so far this season. But that will come.”

Hi s s k i p p e r a n d mo s t experienced defender, Cesar Azpilicue Azpilicueta (left) said: “When

you’re weak defensively

Kepa, James, Christensen, som sometimes we feel like

Silva, Chilwell, Kovacic, w we have to score three

Kante, Jorginho, Mount, o or four each game.

Pulisic, Werner. “Through a season you are not going to be winning 3-0 or 4-0 every week. You have to work to get results and at the moment we have to improve.”

Bounou, Navas, Gomez, Carlos, Acuna, Jordan, Fernando, Rakitic, Suso, En-nesyri, El Haddadi.

Davide Massa (ITA)

CHELSEA REFEREE: