Lampard discusses Chelsea’s defence and his plan to improve it

Frank Lampard believes he knows ‘the answers’ to Chelsea’s defensive problems and has discussed his plans to improve the side ahead of next season.

Chelsea‘s hopes of securing a top four finish were dealt a blow following a humbling 3-0 defeat at Sheffield United last weekend, with the Blues’ defensive frailties once again exposed on a disappointing evening at Bramall Lane.

Individual mistakes and lapses in concentration have been a familiar story for the west London side this season, and Lampard admits it is a concern he is keen to address.

Ahead of tonight’s clash with Norwich at Stamford Bridge, Lampard suggested that competition for places is vital to defensive strength and believes football has moved on from an era of first-choice centre-back partnerships.

“In terms of defensively, there is a way that I want us to play and it’s not gung-ho, it’s not crazy,” Lampard told Sky Sports.

“A lot of the goals are the balls that come into our box that maybe we don’t defend right at that moment and that’s something that has to improve and I feel I know the answers to it.

“Some of it is work and that’s something we will see and it’s part of the process we are in. I don’t like it, I hate conceding goals but we have to work harder on it.

“I don’t think any team in modern football are going to say ‘We’ve got that one defensive partnership’.

“You go back and talk about a John Terry-Ricardo Carvalho partnership, but in the modern day, I don’t think you will find too many clubs to name the two.

“It’s a difficult season and a demanding season, so I’m not saying I just want to pick two centre-backs because you need competition of probably four centre-backs within a squad and then you need them knocking on the door.

“You want to be able to say to players ‘You are not doing enough’ or the two that are playing keep deserving to play.

“I don’t think it’s about just a partnership. Can we be more settled if we improve? Yes, for sure.

“Will it be just two players who are going to be your centre backs? I don’t think that’s going to be the case.”

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