Lampard ‘very happy’ with first Chelsea win, determined to improve from it

At long last, Frank Lampard has met victory as a Chelsea manager. It was far from easy to achieve it against a tough (and rough) Norwich city side, but with perseverance in the first half, and the ability to dominate in the second, we were able to return home with all three points in the 3-2 win.

Lampard’s first win was made special by Tammy Abraham’s brace. They were the 21-year-old’s first senior goals for Chelsea, making him the third youngest player to score twice in the Premier League for Chelsea in the process, after Mark Nicholls and Eddie Newton, who’s now one of his coaches.

It was also the first brace by an English player for Chelsea since November 2013, when Frank Lampard himself collected two goals against West Ham United.

The boss was certainly glad to see Abraham scoring for fun, just as he’s done in the youth teams and in his two seasons on loan in the Championship. The Tammy Goal Klaxon was back in business!

“I spoke to [Abraham] before the game, that I felt that today was the day for him. It was a bit of ‘kidology’ before the game, really, but I do trust in him and I know that as a striker, a young striker, you do need that support and I genuinely mean that.

“I did feel something for him today and it will do wonders for his confidence and I am pleased that he came over [to celebrate]. But we are a group, it wasn’t just him who came over, everyone comes over and that is how we need to move forward.”

Tammy wasn’t the only Frankie Fledgling to shine. Mason Mount added another goal to his tally today, his second in just as many games. Unfortunately, he was also the target of several heavy tackles from the Norwich City brutes, and he ended up leaving the pitch with an apparent calf injury.

Thankfully, it seems that the problem is minor and he will not have to spend much time in the already busy treatment room and can continue to get better and better, just like the rest of the young players.

“Mason took a knock to his calf, so that is better than a strain, obviously. So hopefully in a couple of days it will settle down, so hopefully that is good news. We will assess it.”

“I spoke to Mason yesterday and asked him if he felt like he was a Chelsea player yet because it is important. Important that he feels like he is a big player because we were young today. A young side so players like Mason and Tammy for sure. But also Andreas Christensen, Kurt Zouma are still a little bit young in years and have to grow up very quickly and have personality and be leaders on the pitch and I thought the spirit showed today in the second half.”

Photo by Chelsea Football Club/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

We’re still only at the very start of what is hopefully a very long reign for Lampard at Chelsea. These first few steps haven’t been perfect unfortunately and despite the win today, there are many things that we need to work on, especially off the ball.

But Lampard was happy to be able to focus on the positives without having to worry about the final scoreline afterwards.

“For me, I am happy, very happy with the result. We want to win games, I want to stay in contention. I didn’t want a slow start. We had a tough start and I have got to say I am happy with a lot of the performances. But you can’t shout that too loudly if you aren’t winning games.

“So it changes it for me, today. So I am very happy. It gives me more determination to work. I saw a lot of good things, things we can improve but a real good belief in the players, the way they played today. I am happy, but determined, I suppose.”

Still, given the youthful side — Chelsea’s front three had a combined age of 61 years at the start of the game — the focus will be on the impact of youth, especially on the hard work and the talent of two of our own.

But Lampard made sure to credit some of the older players as well, who are expected to contribute not just with their football, but their experience and leadership as well.

“I think it’s the age-old story, fans like to see players that really feel the club. They are not local boys, they are local in the modern world because players are from all over the world, but they enjoy seeing that because there is something to it.

“They are not necessarily local boys, not in the modern way of football because players are from all over the world, but I think they enjoy seeing something because if you come through the academy here you should feel the club, if you work daily and come through at a young age you’re absolute desire is to do that.

“But I don’t want to make it all about the young players because there are older players who have come from all over the world, Jorginho and Kovacic ran the game in midfield today. They then take on different responsibilities and mentor them slightly. So we’ll get that balance.

“The young boys certainly help.”

-Frank Lampard; Source: Football.London

Long may it continue!