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LONDON: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard lamented the absence of wingers Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech that left the Premier League club without creativity in Saturday’s (12 December) 1-0 loss to Everton.
Moroccan Ziyech missed the trip to Goodison Park due to a hamstring injury suffered in a 3-1 win against Leeds United this month, while American Pulisic was left out of the squad as a precaution.
“Pulisic felt uncomfortable during the week so he couldn’t play,” Lampard told reporters, adding that the congested schedule was affecting the league’s attacking players.
“There are muscle injuries everywhere,” he said. “Players who are explosive and at the top end of the field are getting injured. Did we miss our open players? Yes, we did because they are important to us.”
England’s top flight returned to three substitutions per game this season even though the option was on the table to continue with five, a temporary rule that other major European leagues have implemented after the COVID-19 pandemic condensed their seasons. .
A host of high-level coaches, including Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, have criticized the Premier League this season for failing to care for players after the switch to up to three substitutes.
“We want to see these players, but I think this goes back to the topic of the five substitutes, which will come up later in the week. It’s about the well-being of the players,” Lampard said.
