Chelsea
head coach Frank Lampard says that experience can be "overrated" and
believes that his squad's youthfulness could help them challenge for the
Premier League title in the future.
In his first campaign as a Premier League boss, Lampard has guided Chelsea
to third place with three games remaining, leaving them in control of their
hopes of Champions League qualification.
Chelsea academy products such as Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and
Fikayo Tomori have been successfully integrated to the first-team this
season, but the signings of talented attacking duo Hakim Ziyech and Timo
Werner - with more arrivals possible - are likely to see expectations rise
at Stamford Bridge.
Asked whether the need to step up from top-four contenders to title
challengers could see some players let go by the club, Lampard was keen to
focus on the positives of having a young squad.
He told Sky Sports News: "I think it's part of the situation we're in and
the process we're in here at the minute with the lot of younger players we
have and players that are probably playing their first year in the Premier
League, let alone playing for Champions League spots and what have you,
which is a lot of pressure, is them adapting to that."
"They need to be helped by the players that have been there and done that
and won World Cups or won Premier Leagues like some of the players have in
our squad.
"In certain times, experience is overrated, in my opinion. It's good to have
it within the group but sometimes it doesn't necessarily mean that it's the
answer and that gives you success.
"Sometimes it's a bit of innocence, a bit of youthfulness and a bit of real
desire without the feelings of past campaigns and successes and failures
that can be something really positive within."
Chelsea's top-four hopes appeared to have been dented as they slumped to a
3-0 defeat to Sheffield United on Saturday, but Leicester lost 4-1 to
Bournemouth on Sunday before Manchester United drew 2-2 with Southampton on
Monday night to leave Lampard's side third - a point ahead of both of their
rivals.
Monday's confirmation of Manchester City overturning their two-year ban from
European competition ensured only the top four will qualify for next
season's Champions League, intensifying the race.
Chelsea face Norwich, live on Sky Sports, on Tuesday evening, before
finishing the season with matches against champions Liverpool, and Wolves,
who retain slim hopes of a top-four finish as they sit four points behind
Leicester and United in sixth.
"There's twists and turns every game," Lampard said. "These three games are
so important for all of us.
"I did expect Manchester United to be in the race. They can't not be in the
race with the quality of players they've had this season and the second half
of the season with the incoming of Fernandes and his impact, and the way
they're playing they were always going to be in the race.
"Leicester are a fantastic team as well, so I think the race remains on.
Wolves are there, Wolves are pushing. It is what it is, it's who performs
over these three games, it's so tight."
'I'm not a gung-ho coach'
Following what was a humbling defeat to Sheffield United, Lampard also
insisted that he is not a "gung-ho" coach and has the answers to Chelsea's
defensive frailties.
Chelsea have conceded 49 goals this season - more than any other side in the
top half of the table, and their poor goal difference could yet cost them in
the final standings.
While Lampard believes he can solve Chelsea's defensive conundrum, he
believes the era of stand-out partnerships like the one between his former
team-mates John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, are a thing of the past.
"In terms of defensively, there is a way that I want us to play and it's not
gung-ho, it's not crazy," said Lampard.
"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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