Lampard expects more from attacking players after Blues’ double home defeat

CHELSEA boss Frank Lampard said his attacking players had to do more to break down visiting teams after Thursday’s 2-0 loss to Southampton left them with two straight Premier League defeats at Stamford Bridge for the first time in eight years.

Goals from Michael Obafemi and Nathan Redmond gave improving Southampton a surprise win while Chelsea’s struggles against a tight defence left Lampard facing questions on whether he needs to add creative players in the January transfer window.

Chelsea have been cleared to sign players in January after the Court of Arbitration for Sport this month halved a transfer ban imposed on the club.

“I learn about the players, and I learn about the players particularly in games like that,” Lampard told reporters when asked if Thursday’s performance had nudged him in a certain direction on transfers.

Fourth-placed Chelsea – beaten by Bournemouth on their own patch earlier this month – last lost two successive games at home in November 2011 under Andre Villas-Boas.

They were beaten by West Ham United at Stamford Bridge last month and Lampard said that his front line had to respond.

“Players have to go one v one if you’re an offensive player, play round the corner, mix up your game and break defensive lines because teams aren’t stupid,” Lampard added.

“They’re well organised and you need to do more in an attacking sense.

“You cannot have 70% of possession and control, particularly the first half, and not do more, not hit better crosses, not hit better final passes, not get more clear chances at goal.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka wants to leave the Premier League club in the January transfer window and sign with Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin, the player’s agent has said.

Xhaka has had a fractured relationship with the fans since he reacted angrily to being booed when he was substituted against Crystal Palace in October.

He was subsequently stripped of captaincy by former manager Unai Emery.

“Look, I will say it frankly and honestly, we are in agreement with Hertha BSC and would like to go to Berlin,” Xhaka’s agent Jose Noguera told Swiss publication Blick “We told Arsenal’s (head of football) Raul Sanllehi and sports director Edu as well as the new coach Mikel Arteta.

“Arsenal were informed about all the steps, the player and Hertha are clear. It is only (a matter of) the transfer fee for the clubs.”

Xhaka was signed from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016 for around £30 million (R551 898m) and has made 150 appearances since, scoring 11 goals and providing 17 assists.

New boss Arteta had publicly backed Xhaka to succeed at the north London club, even mentioning that the Swiss international was on his transfer list when he was assistant manager at Manchester City.

However, the agent said the Spanish coach had privately told Xhaka that he was free to leave the club in the close season, which irked the 27-year-old.

Frank Lampard