Premier League 2020-21: Start date 'feels too early for me and my players' - Frank Lampard
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| Frank Lampard, Manager of Chelsea speaks to his team during a drinks break during the Heads Up FA Cup Final match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. Photo: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images |
Frank Lampard has called on the Premier League to give Chelsea a fair start to the new campaign and not risk further injury to his players.
The Blues lost Saturday's FA Cup final 2-1 (video ⬇) to London rivals Arsenal, but even though the 2020-21 league season is set to kick-off on September 12, Chelsea are still not finished with the current campaign.
Lampard's side take on Bayern Munich on Saturday in the rescheduled second leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie.
Chelsea face a monumental task to progress further in the competition having lost the first leg 3-0 at Stamford Bridge back in February.
Even if they fall to defeat in Bavaria, Chelsea will have just 35 days before the new season is due to begin.
Arsenal are FA Cup 2019-20 Champions ⬇
— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 1, 2020Lampard, who saw Willian and Ruben Loftus-Cheek pull out on the eve of the FA Cup final through injury, then lost Cesar Azpilicueta and goalscorer Christian Pulisic during the game to hamstring problems.
"I am guessing we will be told when we start and that will be dependent on how we will go against Bayern Munich," he said.
"It is not ideal if we carry on against Bayern – the players need to be given a break to play at the level and the quality product that the Premier League is.
"Even in a worst-case scenario, we don't go through against Bayern, the 12th feels too early for me for the players to start playing again.
"The players need a break. That is why we have pulled two hamstrings and had players pull out of the game before this."
The Chelsea Boss further said: "I would like to think the Premier League would look seriously at that.
Watch: How Arsenal beat Chelsea inside Wembley Stadium to clinch their 14th FA Cup title ⬇
"Hopefully they give us a fair start next season. We deserve to be (given a fair start) as a Premier League club competing in the Champions League."FOURTEEN TIMES.— The Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) August 1, 2020
Here's how @Arsenal beat the Blues to win the #HeadsUpFACupFinal 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Qj9y41z13f
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