Frank Lampard on Spurs Draw, Being in a Title Race & Mourinho's Tactics

Chelsea missed a chance to move to the top of the Premier League as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

The Blues dominated possession and dominated on the stats sheet, but rarely managed to threaten Hugo Lloris' goal as Spurs' low block left Chelsea frustrated throughout.

It was a challenging afternoon for Frank Lampard's side, and here's what the boss had to say afterwards.


On Whether a Draw Was Fair

Lampard felt Chelsea could have won | Pool/Getty Images

“I thought we dominated big parts of the game," he said (via football.london). "Everything that we talked of before the game in terms of nullifying their counter attacking threat we did really well, so that part off the game was fantastic.

"We almost gifted them one at the end and I thought we created enough. It is difficult to create against Tottenham when they have a low block, the whole team defending centrally. We had to try to go round them and try crosses and have shots, but it is hard. You have to try to stop counter attacking in transitions. I thought that part of our game was excellent.

"Sometimes you rely on a bit of magic, sometimes when you have that dominance it can happen. I am sort of balanced after the game. Big parts were great, hence the clean sheet. But a game we maybe should have won.”


On Jose Mourinho's Tactics

Mourinho set his side up deep once more | Pool/Getty Images

“It’s clear that Tottenham, when they play against this type of game they try to adapt the style of being organised and counter attack. The manager sets that tone. They have great players in those areas to play in that way. Kane and Son we know about.

"We were at home, we wanted to control the game, we did. We could have had a bit more magic or something drop for us at the top of the pitch, there was only really one team for the majority of the game who was searching and that was us. We have been playing pretty well and we wanted to win. In the end we didn’t quite have enough at the top end to do that.”


On Mourinho's Claim That Spurs Aren't Title Contenders

Lampard believes Spurs are in the race | Clive Rose/Getty Images

Jose Mourinho, perhaps with his tongue in his cheek, has claimed that Tottenham aren't title contenders, but that's not an assessment that Lampard was keen to agree with.

"It’s Jose’s call to say it as he sees it from his end, but from the outside they are top of the league, it’s very close at the top. If we’re contenders then they have to be contenders. If you’ve got Harry Kane and Son in your team – Son has got nine goals, Harry’s got seven, they keep clean sheets well because of the organisation of their team – they would expect to be in the race.

"They have invested heavily – they’ve got people like Gareth Bale sitting on the bench, Dele Alli’s not here. There is a strong squad there. So I think we are all competing, but Jose can say can say it as he sees it."


On the Title Race

Lampard's not getting carried away | Pool/Getty Images

"I don’t think the result either way today would have changed the idea that there’s a long way to go. There are so many games to go I don’t think it would have changed anything. I suppose it’s irrelevant what the feeling is after the game from Jose’s point of view for us. We just have to focus on ourselves.

"We know it’s tight at the top. There are not just ourselves, Tottenham and Liverpool that are in the race, there are a lot of teams around us in this season which is looking slightly different to recent seasons. I don’t know what to say about that to be honest."


For more from ​Tom Gott, follow him on ​Twitter!


Source : 90min