Frank Lampard sends frustrated message to Chelsea squad as Man City, Man Utd & Newcastle demands set

Frank Lampard was left frustrated with Chelsea’s first half performance against Nottingham Forest and admitted they didn’t deserve to claim all three points.

Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw to the relegation-threatened Reds on Saturday at Stamford Bridge after Raheem Sterling’s brace wasn’t enough for the hosts.

Taiwo Awoniyi bagged a double in the capital for Steve Cooper’s side to move them three points of the relegation zone with two games to play.

Lampard was not satisfied with Chelsea‘s first 45 minutes and believes it cost them from clinching back-to-back wins to build on their three points last weekend against Bournemouth.

Offering his assessment to Chelsea’s in-house media team, the 44-year-old said: “No (we didn’t deserve more from the game), because of the first 45 minutes. We understood exactly how Forest would come here. They’ve got results recently with a very solid five at the back, good counter-attacking team which you have to be very wary of.

“Where we had that much control of the ball in the first half, we need to do a lot more with it.

“We can only look at ourselves and say ‘the things we spoke about before the game we didn’t do in the first half at the top end of the pitch’. Too much sideways passing, too slow, not enough risk at the top end of the pitch. Maybe some of that is because players are not at the performance levels they want to be at so it’s safe.

“But we are Chelsea and we have to be more dynamic, more clinical like Raheem was in the second half. That means you don’t get a winner. The game was there for us to win.”

Chelsea have three Premier League games left before their season concludes. They travel to Manchester twice in five days as they head to the Blue part first to face Manchester City, then going to Old Trafford to play Manchester United. They will finish the season back at Stamford Bridge on Sunday 28th May as they welcome Champions League chasing Newcastle United.

Lampard, who will depart his caretaker role at the end of the season and be replaced by Mauricio Pochettino, wants the players to continue putting in 100 percent to ensure they finish the campaign strongly following a disappointing season.

“I want to see good play, some results (and) them (the players) competing, showing pride,” concluded Lampard. “The things you want to see all the time. That starts now for Manchester City and it has to go through the week.”