The Blues are stewing in a hot pot now but manager, clearly not one to throw in the towel anytime so early, is confident he can turn things around despite pressure piling increasingly on his job.<\/p>\n
Chelsea\u2019s form has taken a steep nosedive since mid-December 3-1 win over Leeds and that has put Frank Lampard under intense scrutiny in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
Their jaw-dropping run of five defeats in eight games has seen the Blues plummet 11 points from their perch at the top, a spot now occupied by Manchester United. West Ham have overtaken Lampard\u2019s side in the standings with their 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion in midweek.<\/p>\n
Lampard was handed a \u00a3220-million transfer warchest in the summer to build on that top four spot and go for the title this season as reward for his efforts exceeding expectations in his first campaign to finish fourth in the Premier League and also qualifying for the Champions League this season.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately things started going south for the Blues manager after an illuminating start to the season since their win against Leeds and now the shadow of owner Roman Abramovic is looming menacingly over Lampard.<\/p>\n
A fledgling in his first managerial stint, Lampard\u2019s players are experiencing a prolonged severe dip in form for the first time since briefly sitting top of the league table at the start of the season. However, unfazed, the former Chelsea midfielder is not backing away from the massive challenge to reverse their dire situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m a fighter first and foremost. It\u2019s how I managed to make a career out of the game as a player,\u201d a defiant Lampard said ahead of Chelsea\u2019s FA Cup fourth round tie with Luton Town on this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I packed up I could have easily stayed in the media or come out of football altogether.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t need to get back in. I got back in with a desire to be successful. I didn\u2019t have blinkers on. I knew that there will be tough times and things that you can\u2019t control like you did as a player.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love the job and I love the fact that if there are tough times and you can fight your way out of them and I mean the players as well, because we are not firing, it\u2019s the best feeling in football. The best feeling you can possibly have.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would make this talented squad. We\u2019re young in parts, look at title winning groups and the average age of the players they rely on, we are fighting on different levels to that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the same time fight is an important word in football so there\u2019s no doubt now we have to put some things to one side now. It\u2019s not going to be 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 that will win us the games we need to win in the short term, it\u2019ll be the passion and the desire and the togetherness of the team.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"