Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard talked about rebuilding the lost confidence of his team after going through unpleasant results in his last six games of the Premier League. He also gave a hint of rotating a much as he can so that every player of his large squad can get at least a minimum time on the field.
Lampard not only wants to regain the confidence of the individual players rather he wants to bring back the confidence collectively of the team. The coach is aware of how the confidence has dipped after the 3-1 defeat against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. His team was totally outplayed in the first half which eventually became the major reason for the final scoreline at the end.
‘With a big squad of players, I have those decisions every week in different ways. I’m always thinking of form and fitness and what it means to the group and what it means to the individual and that’s part of my job. I will take a view first and foremost to win the game, secondly are there players that need a rest, or more minutes or confidence, because confidence has been hit in this difficult patch we’ve had recently,’ said Lampard as per Chelsea’s Official Website.
‘So I’m not surprised to see some moments like that in games, in training, and of course, then those players need a lift. That’s my job, that’s the staff’s job, that’s their job because there’s only one way out of a dip in confidence and that’s to work hard.
‘I don’t know any other way out of a lack of confidence than to sprint your way out of it and fight your way out of it. You shouldn’t be in this game unless you understand those moments come and the players know that. I’ve been very clear with them on that and that’s where our challenge is.’
‘It’s normal at a difficult time. Football relies so much on confidence, individually and collectively, and the easy times are when confidence is flowing – 16 games unbeaten coming out of Leeds, everyone is happy, moving the ball well, pressure doesn’t affect them on the pitch. It doesn’t take long sometimes for that to change, that’s top-level football.
A huge rough patch can not only lower the confidence of individuals as well as the team, but it can also put tremendous pressure on the players to perform. Lampard returned to his old club knowing he will have expectations to win major trophies. He even admitted that he put pressure on himself not only in the bad times but also in the good times as well.
‘I came into this job expecting pressure, and my personality means I’m quite strange, you probably have to be to do this job at times, but when things are going well I put more pressure on myself, because I worry about what’s around the corner, I worry about complacency. In the unbeaten run I was constantly under pressure from myself about people telling me how great we were.
‘Of course I understand the pressure heightens because I understand the expectations of a club like this, but I love doing what I’m doing and I never expected an easy run in this job. I’ve come to a huge club in the Premier League and world football in the process of a rebuild. That was never going to be an easy run so I have to expect these situations.’
If he is unable to turn the results in his favor in the Premier League, he knows that his job will be in jeopardy. Lampard considers that bad times will go away and good times are bound to come. He puts faith in his players.
