Frank Lampard’s starting lineup for the Valencia game had night had a few interesting changes, especially at the back.
The switch of Cesar Azpilicueta to left back, with Reece James comig in on the right, was fairly predictable, and we expect to possibly see it at the weekend again.
But the dropping of Fikayo Tomori for Andreas Christensen was a surprise. Working as a pundit on BT Sport, Joe Cole insisted that this was likely a tactical switch rather than anything down to the younger defender’s form.
In quotes carried by the Daily Express, Cole claimed that there was a lack of pace in the Valencia front line, that he “doubted whether they had the power in their legs” to attack Chelsea with pace.
“They’ve got threats but it’s not like you’re playing against, [like] at the weekend, a Raheem Sterling,” the former winger said.
“I don’t see anyone with that explosive pace to run away. Maybe that’s why Frank’s gone with Christensen instead of Tomori, maybe he can just sure it up.”
It’s a little confusing, but he’s basically saying that against a team lacking pace we didn’t need to use the speedy Tomori, and could instead give the less rapid Dane a chance. Whether he has other qualities that Lampard wanted to use in this game too we’re not sure.
