Frank Lampard has just been speaking to the media ahead of Chelsea’s game against Bournemouth this afternoon.
Lampard said it was partly down to fitness – we’ve played two games in the last week – and partly a reaction to a shocking first half against Arsenal on Tuesday. Presumably that’s why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang isn’t in the squad at all.
But Lampard also said that it was in part to “give some people an opportunity who deserve it,” which is an interesting angle.
Frank Lampard on making five changes to starting XI:
"It's a bit of both [fitness and reaction to Arsenal loss]. More fitness as well at this stage of the season, to play with the turnaround of the games and give some people an opportunity who deserve it."
[via @ChelseaFC]
— Absolute Chelsea (@AbsoluteChelsea) May 6, 2023
It’s that last part that we’re particularly interested in. Most fans have long given up caring about our actual results this season, and instead they just want to see the new signings and the young players who are the future of this team.
Today’s team has plenty of them – Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke and Mykhailo Mudryk are all players that fans have been crying out to see more of in this final stretch.
