Chelsea’s familiar feebleness from set-pieces almost cost them again – now boss Lampard needs to stop tinkering
WILLIAN’S late goal gave Chelsea the victory they deserved.
But the Blues’ familiar feebleness from set-pieces – and a couple of defensive howlers – almost cost them again.
Valencia had scored the only goal at Stamford Bridge two weeks before when the home side switched off at a free kick.
And until Willian’s strike in the 2-1 win, the same kind of failing was on course to undermine all his team’s good work elsewhere on the pitch.
Perhaps Lampard’s constant tinkering with personnel, formation and tactics does not help build the necessary defensive understanding.
After 11 games as Blues boss, he is yet to pick an unchanged side.
But if you have chosen to play with three centre halves, you would expect at least one of them to make a meaningful challenge when a corner is swung in between the six-yard box and the penalty spot.
Instead Victor Osimhen was given time and space to place his header, a gift for Lille after Tammy Abraham had marked his birthday with his first Champions League goal.
Chelsea conceded more goals from set-pieces than anyone in the Premier League last season except relegated Cardiff, matching the Bluebirds’ total of 15, and things have not improved much.
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They could have let another one slip early in the second half when Benjamin Andre was allowed a free header at the near post from a corner.
At this level, the margins are very fine.
If Jorginho’s shot in first-half stoppage-time had curled just a little more, rather than coming back off the post, Lampard might have had a more comfortable evening.
Or if Mason Mount had steered his effort inside the post rather than wide from a good position, Lille’s resistance might have been broken earlier.
Instead it took a slightly freakish finish from Willian to earn Lampard his first win as a Champions League manager.
Even then a slack late backpass by Fikayo Tomoro let Osimhen in again and only a very well-timed save by Kepa prevented Chelsea having only a point for all their effort.
The visiting goalkeeper then fluffed a clearance in stoppage time and did brilliantly to redeem himself by diving at the feet of Boubakary Soumare.
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To enjoy more than 60 per cent possession in an away Champions League match was impressive.
But some of Chelsea’s defending was not.
Better opponents, at home and abroad, have punished them before and will punish them again if they don’t sort it out.