OLE GUNNAR SOLSJKAER has been harshly criticised since being appointed by Manchester United, according to Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard.
The Norwegian was propelled into the job on a caretaker basis last December following Jose Mourinho’s sacking and won 14 of his first 17 matches in charge.
But United’s form turned after he was handed the top job on a permanent basis as they ended the 2018-19 campaign with one win in nine matches, leading to some questioning the decision to hand him the role full-time.
Ahead of Chelsea’s opening-weekend trip to Old Trafford, however, Lampard insisted the criticism Solskjaer has faced is not justified.
“I am aware of it and it comes with the territory,” he said at his pre-match news conference. “It can be excessive, for everyone in football. I think it is possibly harsh as it is something that he came in to.
“You have to look at him this season and what he gets to do. I don’t listen too much to things.”
Like United, Chelsea have been written off for the title by many before a ball has been kicked this season after losing star player Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
But Lampard, whose job has been hindered by Chelsea’s two-window transfer ban, was relishing the prospect of silencing his side’s critics — starting with victory at United on Sunday.
I love hearing predictions when we’re not in the top four and there isn’t anything better than proving people wrong,” he said.
“I love playing at Old Trafford. It is a big game for both teams. We are both huge clubs that have had a lot of success.
“We both have the same idea that we want to be successful. We want to be competing.”
Chelsea finished 26 and 25 points off top two Manchester City and Liverpool respectively last season, but Lampard is aiming high ahead of his first campaign as a Premier League boss.
“Manchester City and Liverpool showed there was a gap, everyone has to make it up,” he said. “We will aim to win and of course we want to be in the Champions League every year. We are realistic and we just have to work our hardest.
“The gap [is bridgeable] because this is football. One of the beauties is that you start again fresh.”
Lampard also confirmed he will make a late decision on whether to use fitness doubts N’Golo Kante, Willian and Antonio Rudiger at Old Trafford.
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Thank the Lord Cafferkey is gone. Been a great servant but past it. Vaughan the best choice to nullify Star.
Seamus to be dropped, Durcan to start in the half backs with Lee coming into the middle to shackle Moran and stop the ball being fed into the front 3.
God knows we owe the cute hoor artists…here’s hoping.
@Jack Strong: just wait till we get Jack Barry on. Keegan and Aidan o shea won’t know what hit them
@Seán O’Sullivan: Enda Smith, the form midfielder in the country, disagrees. If we’re going to get at Kerry at all it’s going to be in midfield. Aidan on Maher gives us a real chance of getting the running game going from the half back line. If we get Paddy, Zippy and Kev Mc running at the Kerry defence ye’re in trouble.
@Seán O’Sullivan: Jack Barry is a poor man’s William Kirby. No where near as good as he’s made out to be. A big block of a man but a very limited footballer.
@Tomás Ó Tiocair: if he’s that bad how did he play Brian Fenton off the field in the league final? If he can do it to Fenton he can do it to keegan surely
@Jack Strong: there’s no way maher will mark o shea or keegan. He’s way too slow. He’ll be on parsons I’d say.
@Seán O’Sullivan: Jesus anyone can have an off day. Sure the Galway corner back literally played JOD off the field in the QF….should we hand him the all star now and hail him the next Mark O’Se???
@Seán O’Sullivan: Parsons is the quicker of the two so Maher has to pick up one of them. Mayo will play a 3 man midfield with Aidan flirting between there and the 45 because it’s Kerry’s weakest line.
@Jack Strong: Technically Cafferkey is one of the best around, might just be a little bit too slow. But in terms of getting his hand in and technique, he’s very very good.
@Daragh O’Brien: agree Darragh. He’s been left exposed in the past by tactics more than anything else. He’s a quality player and former all star. There’s no better full back on that Mayo panel unfortunately. He probably didn’t get a great chance to get match sharp coming back from injury and was poor against Cork. I’d personally like to see him in there to make amends for Kerry 2014. I know he would be raring for that.
@Daragh O’Brien: Cafferkey has been roasted alive all year, he was simply woeful in Salthill and against Ros. Solid in his day but that day has definitely gone, he’s lost the legs since the injury last year.
@Tomás Ó Tiocair: an off day because Barry was there
@Seán O’Sullivan: Fenton is streets ahead of Barry but you keep on telling yourself otherwise. #deluded
“Good old St Lee. Never breaks the rules. No pulling, dragging, punching”. Says everyone from Mayo. But nobody else.
@Thomas McGilly: he’s easier defend than a fella with a criminal conviction in any case.
@Thomas McGilly: there’s a reason he saw red in 14 and black in 16.
@Jack Strong: Good man Jack. Whatabouttery from the get go.
@Seán O’Sullivan: Keegan was sent off for a nothing offence in 14. Walsh was pathetic with his carry on that day. Enright was the only one who deserved to see the line that day and the outcome would have been very different.
@Thomas McGilly: I wonder who’s jersey he’ll be asking for during the game when he’s trying to rip it off his shoulders.
@Dave Murray: Ah St. Lee doesn’t do such things. He is, as Ellis Boyd Redding would say, “Cleaner than a virgin’s honey potter”.
From a Galway man have a feeling mayo will edge this,there hungry for blood and out for the kill had to bring Vaughan in ,I said after Galway beat them was best thing to happen to them and put money on them to be there year ,prob be game of the season ,can’t wait to see the midfield battle and if Kerry can stop mayos runners and if mayo can stop supply to the full forward line,very intrigued indeed
Its hard to see anything other than a comfortable win for kerry, but to have any chance ,Mayo will have to make sure they stay in this game early on, and if so after forthy mins it might be an interesting finish.
Great team Cmon Mayo
I think colm the gooch cooper is gonna have a field day against this mayo defence. Not 1 of them will stop him
Yeah… he’ll have a great game in the studio.