Chelsea boss Frank Lampard’s ‘massive problem’ outlined during Tottenham clash

Chelsea were taking on Tottenham on Saturday with the chance to put some distance between fourth and fifth positions in the Premier League.

The Blues had gone on a poor run of form going into the London derby and Matthew Upson acknowledged one of their biggest problems shortly before Olivier Giroud grabbed the opening goal.

The former Arsenal centre-back told BBC Radio 5 Live: “One of Chelsea's massive problems this season is establishing a really good centre-back partnership.

“In a back four, you rely on the two centre-backs to grow in a partnership and remain solid. It's interesting that Frank's looking at that.”

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Lampard has been forced to change his defence on a regular basis this season due to injury problems and poor form.

Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori have each made more than 12 first-team appearances as their new manager struggles deploy a consistent starting XI.

The former Derby boss said before the match: "Big moment for us – they are all big but we understand how close the battle is for fourth place. Tottenham are just behind us.

"Our form isn't what we want it to be, time to change it and a good opportunity today.

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"I expected a match up – I expected Jose to know which way we would go. It is a match up and we have to take this challenge on positively."

Arsenal cult hero Perry Groves has also been vocal in his assessment of Lampard’s job so far, and even insisted that he could leave the role after just a single season.

“Chelsea, I’ve seen them at home, they go into their shell at home, trust me,” Groves said on talkSPORT.

“They haven’t got the personalities and the characters to get the game by the scruff of the neck.

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“Chelsea fans said they would give him this season and I said if it didn’t go well he would get a little bit longer than other managers, because he is Frank Lampard.

“But trust me if this doesn’t go well, you watch, by March 8 he could be on his way.

“Chelsea fans have to get behind their team at Stamford Bridge.”

  • Chelsea FC
  • Frank Lampard
  • BBC
  • Jose Mourinho
  • Premier League
  • London

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