Former Chelsea FC midfielder Craig Burley believes Frank Lampard will shoulder additional pressure as the Blues manager heading into the 2020-21 season due to his spending spree this summer in the transfer market.
Lampard has spared no expense in his efforts to make Chelsea FC real title contenders for next season. Thiago Silva’s arrival at the club earlier today meant that the 35-year old center-back became the Blues’ fifth summer signing after Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, and Malang Sarr.
The Chelsea FC boss has been backed up to every extent possible by the club’s owner Roman Abramovich in this summer’s transfer window. The Russian tycoon has put ahead of his financial resources at Lampard’s behest to be used, however, he must expect results in return from his side, expressed Burley.
“He’s [Lampard] adored by the Chelsea fans because of his hugely successful time there but Abramovich is not running a sentimental ship, and he’s backed him.
“Frank Lampard now knows he’s going to have to prove his worth. I think we saw enough last year in terms of the way his team played that there is a lot of hope there.
Burley added that failure to deliver the desired results from his squad next season could mean Lampard being given the axe by Abramovich. The ex-Blues player stated that even replicating last season’s top-four finish in the Premier League would not be satisfactory for the west London club.
“Well, he’ll have to [live up to the expectations] or he’ll be out.”
“He cannot afford to finish in fourth spot next year, 33 points or 32 points off the top boys, that’s not going to cut it. So as long as there’s progress there, I think he’ll get some time, and that’s where the pressure’s going to be.”
