For these reasons, Chelsea appointed Hakim Ziyash!

Frank Lampard seems comfortable with his situation and enthusiastic about the challenge, despite the pressure generated by the volume of contracts his Chelsea team made in their bid for the Premier League title, after spending close to 200 million euros. pounds since the end of last season.

The London club have spent more than any other Premier League team since the end of the season, seeking to try to bridge the gulf that separates it from champion Liverpool.

And Chelsea emerged as a strong candidate to try to fight Liverpool and Manchester City for the title after signing with the Germans Timo Werner, Kay Havertz, Ben Chilwell, the Moroccan Hakim Ziyech and the Brazilian Thiago Silva.

Having experienced a trophy-laden career as a Chelsea player, Lampard enters his second season as coach of the London team, but this time the pressure will be much greater than the first season.

However, Lampard, who begins his Premier League campaign in Brighton on Monday, believes that any Chelsea manager will always be under pressure to win titles given the club’s prestige, adding: “Pressure to demand improvements is normal here. That is within the scope of this work. To the others, to talk about whether we are up to the challenge or not. The expectations are always there and I feed on them. “

“I came here to try to win,” he stressed.

This summer recalls the early days of the London club under its Russian owner Roman Abramovich, when he routinely spent millions to make the West London team a major force in both the Premiership and Europe.

“Bridging the gap to build trust”

But Liverpool’s German manager Jürgen Klopp asked if Chelsea would be able to integrate all the new faces into a cohesive unit. Lampard’s response was also cautious in this regard, saying: “We finished the last two seasons far behind by a large margin and therefore we must first look to bridge the gap to build confidence. Stuff. “

He stressed: “I don’t want to talk that we are looking to send a (warning) message. We must be enthusiastic, but also cautious about the fact that we have to work with new players and my mission is to make them feel stable and work their best.” .

He continued: “Unfortunately, the preparatory season was short for everyone (as a result of last season’s delay due to the suspension imposed by the outbreak of the new Corona virus), and when you hire new players, you have to work very hard and fast, and that. we will do it”.

Chelsea’s spending is likely not to end the deals concluded so far, as Frenchman Rennes confirmed that the London club had contacted him to hire Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to create a competitive atmosphere with him. Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arisabalaga, who made many mistakes last season.

And in light of the contract with Brazilian center-back Thiago Silva from Paris Saint-Germain, France, Vicayo Tomori, who emerged last season as one of the most powerful emerging talents, may find limited opportunities to participate this season. who can open the door to his departure on loan to Everton. .

Lampard declined to speak about his young player’s future, saying only on Thursday: “Vicayo trained with us today and is a candidate for the Brighton match. This is where we are.”

Lampard will not be able to reveal all of his new players at Brighton Monday’s game due to the injury to Ziyech and Chilwell, and Thiago Silva has yet to train with the team after he gave him more comfort as a result of his arrival with Saint-Germain to the Champions League final.

“Thiago Silva is now in London, but he will not train with us until the end of the week, so I highly doubt that he will be able to participate in the Brighton game,” revealed Lampard.

On the bright side, Lampard had hoped American Christian Pulisic and Spaniard César Aspiliquita would participate after recovering from an injury suffered in the English Cup final, which his team lost to London neighbors Arsenal last month. .