Frank Lampard advised Chelsea to embrace the strain of the race for a spot within the Champions League subsequent season after his aspect edged two factors again in entrance of Manchester United and into the highest 4 with a comfortable 3-0 win over Watford on Saturday. After a bitterly disappointing Three-2 defeat at struggling West Ham in midweek, in-form United’s 5-2 thrashing of Bournemouth earlier within the day noticed Chelsea slip outdoors the highest 4 earlier than kick-off. However there was by no means any doubt the Blues would transfer again into fourth as objectives from Olivier Giroud, Willian and Ross Barkley capped a dominant show and left the Hornets nonetheless precariously positioned only one level outdoors the relegation zone.
“We had the prospect to go third on Wednesday. In the present day there was strain on us simply to get again into fourth. That is the strain we now have to get used to,” mentioned Lampard. “It was a snug night for us.”
The strain is definitely on Lampard to ship Champions League soccer subsequent season after the membership have already invested practically 100 million kilos ($125 million) in signing Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Lampard reacted to conceding 3 times to West Ham by making 4 modifications with Marcos Alonso and Antonio Rudiger paying the worth for his or her half within the Hammers’ late winner.
Giroud was a type of recalled to the beginning line-up and the 33-year-old confirmed why Lampard prolonged his contract for one more yr in the course of the coronavirus shutdown.
The French worldwide was denied by the short reflexes of Ben Foster along with his first massive probability, however was to not be stopped when he span onto Barkley’s move earlier than discovering the underside nook on 28 minutes.
Watford supervisor Nigel Pearson recalled Nathaniel Chalobah to the beginning line-up and Andre Grey to the matchday squad after each had been dropped for a Three-1 dwelling defeat by Southampton final weekend after flouting UK authorities pointers by attending a celebration for Grey’s 29th birthday.
Nevertheless, there was no enchancment within the efficiency as Watford have taken only one level from 4 video games for the reason that restart.
“After all we’re involved with the state of affairs we’re in, we aren’t naive, however a very powerful factor is to recognise what we’re and ensure our performances replicate that collective spirit,” mentioned Pearson. “What we won’t do is reproduce video games like final week.”
The guests gave themselves a mountain to climb when Etienne Capoue unnecessarily barged into Christian Pulisic to concede a penalty.
Willian is into the ultimate month of his contract at Stamford Bridge after seven years with the membership. But when the Brazilian is to depart with Arsenal and Tottenham excited by retaining him in London, his Chelsea profession goes out on a excessive as he netted his fourth purpose in as many Premier League video games for the reason that resumption.
Watford appeared content material simply to maintain the rating down after half-time with purpose distinction a consideration within the battle to beat the drop.
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Pearson’s males host bottom-of-the-table Norwich on Tuesday in an enormous match if they’re to construct up a cushion over Bournemouth and Aston Villa, with Arsenal and Manchester Metropolis to return within the remaining week of the season.
Chelsea needed to settle for only one extra purpose within the second half as Barkley fired dwelling Cesar Azpilicueta’s cut-back in stoppage time.
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