Kovacic goal is a laughing Mat-ter for happy Frank
FRANK LAMPARD admits one of his ‘projects’ at Chelsea is to get Mateo Kovacic among the goals.
Croatia midfielder Kovacic broke his Blues duck on his 71st appearance for the club in Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw in Valencia.
Despite not scoring since January 2017, when he was playing for Real Madrid, Kovacic (pictured) could even have had a brace in Spain, only for Jasper Cillessen to deny him a second.
Chelsea boss Lampard said: ‘We’ve had a lot of jokes between me and him, and the whole squad and him, because he’s a player of such quality that should score more goals.
‘It’s a project for me, for him and for the whole staff to get him more goals, and he could have scored two.
‘I’m delighted for him and I hope that’s the start of something new.’
Lampard also backed VAR after a lengthy review following the Christian Pulisic strike that put the Blues 2-1 up.
Carlos Soler had put the hosts ahead but their lead lasted less than a minute as Kovacic struck. Then Pulisic nudged home Kurt Zouma’s knock-down five minutes after the break.
The Video Assistant Referee eventually confirmed the American’s goal would stand and Lampard admitted he was not too annoyed by the wait. ‘I don’t think the delay is the problem,’ he said.
‘The problem in the Premier League has been whether the decision was right or wrong even after the delay, and that’s where I think we’re not getting it right.
‘We’ve had a few (issues) this season in our games and that is where VAR needs to improve. We want to keep that [waiting] time down but if you get the right decision I don’t think there are too many complaints.’
Daniel Wass fluked a leveller for the hosts when his cross flew over Kepa Arrizabalaga’s head after the Chelsea goalkeeper had brilliantly saved a Dani Parejo penalty.
Tammy Abraham picked up a nastylooking hip complaint after a heavy fall, but his club hope the England striker has only suffered bruising.