The Frank Lampard Verdict- Former Stoke City manager Gus Poyet has urged Chelsea’s boss, Frank Lampard to make his team more compact and win a game without conceding. Chelsea was utterly disappointed against Sheffield United on Saturday where they faced a 3-0 defeat in the Premier League. The Blues started the game on the front foot and were dominating possession before David McGoldrick scored his first Premier League goal of his career in false clearance from Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Olivier McBurnie doubled Sheffield’s lead with a brilliant header in the first half. McGoldrick scored his second of the day after a poor clearance from substitute Antonio Rudiger as the Blades recorded a historic 3-0 win against Chelsea.

What The Former Chelsea Man Said About The Team And Frank Lampard?

Former Blues’ star Poyet told Stadium Astro that it’s impossible for a team to carry more than two player’s bad performance in a game: 

“In football, I say a team can carry one player in a game, two players [more difficult], more than two you can not carry because the opposition can play. And that is what happened to Chelsea, there were too many who were not at the level you need to be to win football games.”

Poyet suggests that it is more important for a team to be more concrete at the back before becoming an attacking-minded side.

“For example, myself, even if I like my team to treat the football very well, and pay attention and create attacks, I start my team from the back. I make sure that first we are organized, we are tight, we make it difficult for the opposition, we care about not conceding like our goal is our house, they cannot get in there.”

“Sometimes we try to split, he is an offensive manager, he is a defensive manager and there is nothing in between, but there is. The best teams in the world defend very well and attack very well.”

What Poyet Went On To Add About Frank Lampard?

History suggests that Chelsea has won more trophies playing defensive football than attacking. Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s most successful manager won trophies for them. The Special One was always playing more tactical and defensive football. The Blues did not concede many goals but scoring one or two which was enough for three points. 

“It is having the right balance and that’s what I want to see from Chelsea next year – a better balance in their play. More practical sometimes, win 1-0, why not?”

“The best teams in the world win leagues winning 1-0 when they are not having a good day. [Sheffield United] was a day for Chelsea to say, ‘we are not having a good day, let us make sure we are solid, we have got enough players to score a goal and we win 1-0.”

 What Poyet Said About Kurt Zouma?

Poyet was particularly critical of Kurt Zouma. The player made the headline for his last ditched tackle on Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke. This was in the dying moments in that game to win all three points for Chelsea. However, the French centre-back was a flop against the Blades.

 “I would start with that, to have a better organization in terms of defending. I am not going to take out [Kurt] Zouma because he is a very strong defender. Without going too far, the tackle the other day against Crystal Palace in the last minute, there are not many players who can do that.”

“But he was static. He was static in everything. Even in the last goal which everyone will remember for [Antonio], Rudiger not kicking the ball away but he [Zouma] does not even try to stop the cross.”

“He is running but he did not even stretch himself, he did not even have to stop, it was like he was having one of those days where you are not feeling well and you are not really there, concentrating enough.”