What a difference a few days make in the world of Premier League football. 

On Wednesday night, a below par Chelsea side was brushed aside by a rejuvenated West Ham United team, who were incidentally skippered by former Blues youth player Declan Rice

Frank Lampard, who had suffered his second defeat in two attempts against the side he began his playing career at, was understandably disheartened with the performance of his side. 

He didn’t have a bad word to say following Chelsea’s win versus Watford though, as the Blues returned to the top four in some style.

Three is the magic number

Three goals and three points accompanied the first match in SW6 for the Blues new home-kit, which incidentally is sponsored by mobile company Three. 

The swagger shown from minute one was a joy to behold for Super Frank, who told Chelsea’s in-house press core that he was pleased with a solid performance, both in defence and attack. 

He said: “I’m pleased with the team performance.”

“It was solid, very strong defensively as well. We knew there’d be some longer balls, we knew set-pieces would be an issue, but we dealt with them well.” 

This point of a Premier League season always comes with its added pressure’s, whether you’re at the top or the bottom of the table.

For Chelsea’s Manager, it is a familiar feeling to his playing days with the Blues, meaning he knows exactly what is expected of his side from here on in, with every game bringing that added pressure. 

He continued: “I think every game’s going to be pressure now. At West Ham there was pressure because we knew we could go third.

"It’s a different kind of pressure but it’s still the same.

“It’s how you focus on the game and the job in hand, we cannot get too caught up with what everyone else does at the moment and we did that well.

“‘There was no nonsense, the mentality was good, we started bright and carried on and got the small details of the game right at both ends of the pitch, which I was pleased with.”

Captain America back to save the day

Performances from certain players also pleased the Chelsea boss, but it was the continued form of his American flyer, Christian Pulisic, that continued to make the headlines. 

The United States international put in another scintillating display, winning a penalty in the process for his teammate Willian to convert, a goal which incidentally put the Blues two-nil up and in control. 

Lampard, buoyed by the American’s latest performance, said: “He was playing very well, he got injured at the start of January and he’d been injured until the restart.

“But what he looks now is sharp and hungry and his quality is there for everyone to see at the moment. 

“He’s going past players, he’s moving at pace, he always works very hard for the team in all senses to be fair.

“So, I’m very happy with him and considering his age, considering what could be coming from him, I’m very, very pleased and we’ve got ourselves a very good player and he’ll get even better.”

Kepa Clean Sheet

Praise was also given to the man in-between the sticks for the Blues, Kepa Arrizabalaga, who put in some good saves during the 90-minutes to preserve his side’s first clean sheet in the league since the restart. 

Lampard continued: “It was important, and I’m pleased for him.

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“Pleased for the back four in front of him as well, because I thought we defended pretty well when we needed to. 

“But the moment when we slipped, and they got in, he makes a really good save and that’s what you want from your goalkeeper. 

“You want him to stay alert and make those sorts of saves. It’s going to be great for his confidence, the clean sheet, as well.”

Kante Doubts

The only sour note from an otherwise top-notch display, was an injury suffered by the Blues midfielder, N’Golo Kante, with Lampard stating he’s likely to mis Tuesday’s tie with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

He added: “Kante has got a small hamstring issue.

“He'll have a scan tomorrow so we'll have to see how bad it is but I'm guessing it will be a problem for Crystal Palace on Tuesday.”

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