Details on just how low the standards have dropped at Chelsea this season have been revealed in an in-depth report.
Following the 4-1 hammering, they take on Champions League qualifiers Newcastle on Sunday in the final game of the season but are guaranteed their worst league finish since 1996.
He also called for the “standards” to improve at Stamford Bridge. And the level of issues at Chelsea have been detailed by Matt Law of The Telegraph.
He claims that players have regularly been “trudging on to the training pitch with their laces undone” – a clear sign of a squad lacking in discipline and mentality.
Similarly, the article states there was more than one case where a player was late for the team bus because they had gone for a post-training nap at home.
But that was met with nothing more than a few smirks and head shakes. It ties in with a previous line from Law, who writes that “it has become easier for too many players to allow themselves to disappear within the crowd instead of being vocal and challenging each other”.
One might have thought Lampard would have brought back the strict fine system he introduced in his first spell but it was not the case given the short nature of his time at the helm.
Another tidbit includes a player asking why extra running drills were being implemented, which didn’t send out a great message to his teammates.
Lampard had tried to keep players motivated following the Champions League exit against Real Madrid, which effectively ended their season.
It’s said he did this by addressing the group and bringing players into his office chats but incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping he fares better at getting his message across when he takes the reins.
SPORTbible has contacted Chelsea for comment.
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