LAMPARD HAPPY WITH CHELSEA’S CHARACTER IN WIN
LAMPARD PLEASED WITH PERFORMANCE AFTER COMEBACK AT VILLA
FRANK LAMPARD hailed the “great quality and character” of his Chelsea side as they returned to Premier League action with a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa.
The Blues came back from a onegoal deficit to win thanks to two goals in three minutes midway through the second half from Christian Pulisic and Olivier Giroud.
“I am really pleased with the performance,” said Lampard.
“Aston Villa had the chance to do this once before us [play a game], but I think we moved the ball well and dominated possession. It’s been a little bit of our story this season, dominating possession, but we need to be more clinical.
“I can definitely give the players some leeway on that one because of the long time off. We showed great quality and character to win the game. I am pleased with the win.”
The introduction of Pulisic was an inspired substitution and Lampard added: “The players who make the differences should always take all the credit. With Christian and Ross [Barkley], they came on at the same time and have trained well.
“They had cases to start but I have some good selection problems.
“Then you have to consider the type of game and that fitness will play a part, and bringing on Christian and Barkley early in the second half was always in my mind depending on how the game went.
“The way it was going we needed a bit of inspiration – Christian with his goal, and Ross did as well. I think it shows how important subs are.”
Villa scored two minutes before half-time to go ahead and Lampard admitted he needed to galvanise his players at the break.
“It was frustrating, but when you talk to the players it has to be about what is the solution, rather than a frustration. I think we had to make sure we kept moving the ball quickly, kept attacking down the sides like we did and not get bored of doing the good things which were giving Villa a problem. I think we did that.
“The more we did that the players believed, then Oli [Giroud] gets the second goal and we deserved to win the game as we had so much of the ball. If we were more clinical it would make it an easier afternoon.”
It was a welcome return for Ruben Loftus-Cheek from injury and Lampard said: “Yes it was good. I am delighted for Ruben to be back in the fold and he has got in the team on his own merit, on the way that he works well, over a long time now.
“In the last three or four weeks since he has been back training, he has looked good and he has looked strong. We have to give him a little bit of time to adapt.”
Meanwhile, Chelsea have completed the signing of Timo Werner from RB Leipzig for a fee of £47.5 million as the Blues secured their second high-profile addition of the summer.
They fought off competition from Liverpool to sign the 24-year-old.
The other new signing is Hakim Ziyech from Ajax.
Brentford boosted their Championship promotion hopes with a 2-0 success at Fulham on Saturday.
Wealdstone have been promoted as champions of National League South to the National League after it was decided to end the season on a points per game basis and stage end-of-season play-offs. Wealdstone were top, three points clear of Havant & Waterlooville, when football was halted in March.