Football

Werner will return to form says Lampard

Chelsea's English head coach Frank Lampard (C) celebrates at the end of the game during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge in London on December 5, 2020. - Chelsea won the game 3-1. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Chelsea’s English head coach Frank Lampard (C) celebrates at the end of the game during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Leeds United at Stamford Bridge in London on December 5, 2020. – Chelsea won the game 3-1. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /

Frank Lampard is not worried about the poor goalscoring form of Timo Werner and insists that the German striker will come good eventually.
Werner’s last Chelsea goal was on November 7 and his four goals in 16 Premier League games for the Blues does not make for good reading.
Werner joined from RB Leipzig for a reported £47.5million in June with huge credentials but as yet, he is yet to deliver the goods on a consistent basis.
Chelsea host Manchester City on Sunday and Lampard is backing his under fire 24-year-old German charge to stir from hibernation.
“In terms of scoring goals, I always found – and I’m not talking for Timo here – that every player goes through tough times in front of goal,” Lampard said in a press conference.
“The beauty is that he has been getting chances, because that is definitely a positive, we know that. I found work on the training ground to be the only way to turn that, simple work on the training ground and repetition of finishing, which Timo is doing now.
“When you work like that, it is a matter of time because his natural attributes will get him in front of goal and get him away from defenders and will get him those chances again.
“If his confidence comes down from missing a couple, that is only natural. It is my job to help him with his confidence and be positive and push in a positive direction and I feel the goals will come.”
Werner has converted just three of his 11 big chances in the Premier League this season.
Of players who have had at least 10 big chances, that conversion rate (27.3) ranks second lowest, ahead of only Burnley striker Chris Wood (14.3).
Lampard’s side have also endured a tough run, winning just one of their past five league games to sit fifth in the table, seven points behind Liverpool and Manchester United.But the former England international said he was embracing the pressure that came with a dip in form.
“I enjoy pressure. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have got back into this. I would have walked away at the first chance and that’s something I’d never do,” Lampard said.
“That doesn’t mean you’re as happy as when you’re on that 16-game unbeaten run and that’s normal. But it does make me focus absolutely. You learn more in defeat and tough moments.”It’s head down time. Head down and work. And not consider the table too much. We know we’re there or thereabouts.”