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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I was thinking the same yesterday. Can you imagine a player like Aidan O’Shea was left on the bench for a whole game. There would be a mutiny the day after their championship campaign ended.
@Ned Flanders: cheap shot. O’Shea showed he is the ultimate team player by switching to a totally new position over the last 2 games to help the team get over the line. I guess haters are always gonna hate though
@Pepper Brooks: ultimate team player? That particular tactic nearly blew up in mayos face. In the replay he was soloing around his 21 half way through second half and trying 40 yard outside of boot passes that ran out over the line. If kerry hadnt panicked and had taken points earlier rather than going for goals when 7 down it could have been a very different
@Pepper Brooks: O’Shea wouldn’t make the Dublin bench.
Juniors maybe
@johnnyA the game is also about opinions,for you it’s bitter and twisted against Dublin,while us Dublin fan’s are enjoying every minute of this great Team,so happy days for us Ha Ha ha
@alan dodrill: *fans
It’s a great achievement to show humility when you’re strolling through the championship. Fair play to the Dublin/AIG players for being such good winners. If Gavin exerts such control he must endorse or at least turn a blind eye to the playacting. Cooper at it again yesterday. McCarthy and McCaffrey at it the last day – good footballers but while their fans have brought the worst aspects of UK terrace culture to Gaelic Games the players have brought Neymar type playacting into our national sport. Great lads all the same.
@Johnny A: Why not just enjoy the football instead of always having a bitch , life is too short
@Tony Talbot: the football championship used to mean something. Now it’s completely hollow. Very few meaningful contests – certainly none when Dublin/AIG are involved. Instead of mitigating their natural advantages – population, money, home advantage – the GAA have bolstered these and set them in stone. Teams like Tyrone and Monaghan now come up to Croker with ridiculous defensive systems just to keep the score down. The GAA have to look at the population and reconsider a split – for example Dublin North/AIG & Dublin South/HSBC. There should be an equalisation process with the corporate loot – they should be allowed keep 20-30% with the rest being redistributed. And they should be kept out of Croker a lot more – why not make them play an away semi final for example. I’ll enjoy it then.
@Johnny A: have to hand it to you mate you have bitterness to a new level. Short memories like most non dubs. This golden era has more to do wirh jim gavin than anything else.Maybe he should only be allowed manage smaller counties?
@Johnny A: explain 1995 – 2011??
If you split Dublin now you’d risk an all Dublin All Ireland final and that would be worse! Did you see the bench. Dublin A Vs Dublin B would be some game!
Other counties need to stop making excuses… Kerry has the same population as Wicklow as is the most successful football county by far
Also, let’s split Kilkenny into North & South and actually while we’re at what about the most successful football county, Kerry…well over due a split!!
@Brendan Farrell: if you think a 2 way split isn’t enough and they’d still be too strong then a 4 way split would be ideal. Could be 4 Dublin zones – AIG1, AIG2, AIG3, AIG4. Have their own provincial championship. The metropolitan cup or something like that.
@paddy: I wouldn’t call it bitterness – more like constructive hate.