Frank Lampard has praised the good intentions of Chelsea owner Todd Boehly and challenged his players to take the club’s first step into the future over the final weeks of the season.
Defeat at Bournemouth on Saturday will see Chelsea slip below Gary O’Neil’s side, who have battled relegation for most of the season, and they could fall as low as 14th.
Boehly, who has spent almost £600million on signings in the 12 months since buying the club, said this week that he and the hierarchy “very much believe we’re going to figure it out” after the team slumped to a sixth consecutive defeat – and possibly their most incoherent – against Arsenal.
It leaves Chelsea yet to break the 40-point barrier with five games to play, and on course to record their lowest Premier League finish in 29 years.
Lampard’s team need one more goal to avoid matching the club’s all-time lowest tally in a league season, 31, a record which has stood since 1924. The team are still 15 goals short of the club’s lowest return for a Premier League season.
Despite the damning statistics, Lampard said he has seen signs of positivity from the owners since he took over as interim manager a month ago.
“It’s a good thing to speak so positively,” he said of Boehly’s comments. “It’s what I’ve found since I’ve been here, good intentions on where the club is going to be taken.
“That’s good, and then from my point of view I’m working with the squad to try and get some turnaround in terms of feeling, performance and then results. It’s up to the owners of the club to take those bigger decisions.
“It’s not for me to talk about (a vision for the club). I’m here until the end of the season. I don’t think my vision at this point is for me to answer.”
Chelsea still have to face three of the top four on the run-in as Lampard looks to mastermind the team’s first win in any competition since March 11. The club have had three managers since that 3-1 victory against Leicester, and scored only four goals in nine games.
The 3-1 loss at the Emirates was as dismal as anything in what has been a hugely disappointing first season under Boehly, with the spirit amongst the squad seemingly at rock bottom as they sink down the table.
Lampard said: “All we can say in this period – everybody from the outside wants to say there’s not much on it (the run-in)….but for myself and for the players we have to show an immense amount of pride in what we do in the games. It’s the first step into the future.
“Will we need a reboot of some sense in the summer? Sure. That’s clear because we’re not where we want to be.
“But at the moment we have to do what’s right in front of us, and the fans you can be sure from my point of view will be pushing for that. I hope they can see the rewards of that, whatever they are.”
Chelsea have long since dropped out of the race for the Europa League and Conference League, meaning they are facing a first season without European competition since 2016/17 and for only the second time in 26 years.
Lampard added: “It’s not for me to sit on and feel hurt by too much. It’s more what’s the action that’s going to get us out of it. The action this season is not going to get us in the Champions League or in the top eight.
“Who knows where it might get, it’ll be like the first small step. You have to consider it in that period. Not all fans want to hear that, but it’s a reality which I’ve come back into.
“Every situation is different. I’m the third manager, maybe fourth. You can see from that that it’s been a tough season all round.”
Man Utd back-up goalkeeper Heaton pens one-year contract extension
Tom Heaton hopes to push the Manchester United squad towards further success next season after penning a one-year contract extension.
The 38-year-old is currently with the England squad in Germany for Euro 2024 as a training goalkeeper, but his renewal at Old Trafford was announced on Tuesday.
Heaton remains as a back-up option for Erik ten Hag, though featured twice in EFL Cup wins over Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest en route to lifting the trophy in 2023.
The former Burnley man wants to use that success as motivation for further joy n the 2024-25 campaign.
"I am delighted to continue my stay at my boyhood club," Heaton told United's in-house media channels.
"I still feel in great shape and I am ready to offer whatever the squad needs throughout the season ahead.
"In addition to on the pitch, I'm learning so much off it for my next steps, whatever that may be.
"But, first and foremost, I want to push the squad to build on our successes from last season."
The Red Devils begin their pre-season campaign against Danish team Rosenborg on July 15, the day after the European Championship ends.
Dewsbury-Hall reunites with Maresca after signing for Chelsea
Chelsea have announced the signing of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City on a six-year contract.
The midfielder follows his former Leicester manager, Enzo Maresca, into the club for a fee of £30million.
Dewsbury-Hall joined the Foxes at eight years old in 2006, progressing through the youth system before making his first-team debut in 2020, going on to make 129 appearances.
Last season, he played an instrumental role in Leicester winning the Championship, returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking, playing 44 times in the league - he scored 12 goals and 14 assists.
In an emotional post on Instagram, the midfielder bade farewell to the Leicester fans, saying: "Well what can I say? What a journey it's been. Seventeen years of my life devoted to this club, and it's been a pleasure. I've loved every minute of my time at this football club and created some memories & friendships I'll never forget.
"I'm very proud of what we achieved together last season - creating memories of a lifetime for us all. But bigger than that, hopefully going some way to righting the wrongs of that relegation season.
"I'm glad I'm leaving the club with them in the Premier League, where they belong, and wish Leicester City all the best in the upcoming season and further on. I'm one of your own, Leicester. But it's time for me to go now…"
Dewsbury-Hall is the fourth signing by Chelsea already in this transfer window, following Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman and Marc Guiu into the club.
'Heartbroken' Leeds United confirm Gray sale to Tottenham
Archie Gray has joined Tottenham from a "heartbroken" Leeds United in a deal reportedly worth up to £40million.
Gray, the great nephew of Leeds great Eddie Gray, enjoyed a breakthrough season at Elland Road last season.
The 18-year-old made 47 appearances in the Championship for Daniel Farke's team in 2023-24, as Leeds lost to Southampton in the play-off final.
And the Whites have confirmed that a clause in the youngster's contract, which became active when Leeds failed to return to the Premier League, opened the door for teams to swoop.
Gray seemed destined to move to Brentford over the weekend, undertaking a medical with the Bees, until Leeds rejected the payment structure of a £35m offer.
That enabled Spurs to come in and sign the midfielder.
Leeds posted on X that they were "heartbroken to see one of our own depart".
In a separate transaction, however, Joe Rodon has moved from Spurs to Leeds.
The Wales defender spent last season on loan at Elland Road.
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