Scholes lists the two major ‘Issues’ which are stopping Chelsea from being title contenders
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes believes there are two major problems that manager Frank Lampard needs to address if Chelsea are to become serious title contenders.
Speaking in his role as a pundit for Amazon Prime after the Blues 2-1 defeat to Wolves last night, Scholes raised questions about Thiago Silva’s fitness, and Lampard’s inability to settle on who starts up front.
“I think they will fall a little bit short of Liverpool and Manchester City. I still think they are the teams to beat. I still think he has a couple of issues [with the squad], I would say. Thaigo Silva has come in at 36 years of age. He is going to have to manage him carefully to get through games because he is going to want him to play in all the important games.”
“Can he do that for the full season? There is no doubt that he has brought a solidness back to Chelsea along with the goalkeeper as well. Also, can [Tammy] Abraham and [Olivier] Giroud get that combination right up there?”
Silva was not at fault for either goal last night but, as Scholes points out, his game time will need to be managed carefully and if the Brazilian is not in the team, Chelsea do look a lot more vulnerable. Over the course of the season, that could come back to bite them.
However, the number nine situation is probably a more pressing matter. Timo Werner seems to be toiling playing out wide and the German may need to move centrally in order for him to return to form. After Olivier Giroud scored once again last night, though, that is a tough call that Lampard will have to make.