Frank Lampard revealed there wasn’t a ‘beautiful’ feeling inside the Chelsea dressing room after Saturday’s stalemate against Manchester United, but he was encouraged by more signs of defensive improvement from his side.
The Blues looked shambolic at the back in recent draws against West Brom and Southampton, conceding six goals in two games against sides who are likely to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Lampard spent the overwhelming majority of his transfer budget on strengthening an already formidable looking forward line, but three of his defensive additions impressed at Old Trafford.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy kept his third clean sheet for the club and produced two outstanding saves from Marcus Rashford to preserve a point, while Ben Chilwell was a steady influence at left-back.
But Lampard reserved special praise for the experienced Thiago Silva, who prevented his former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Edinson Cavani from marking his United debut with a late winner.
‘There’s been improvement,’ said Lampard when asked about his side’s defensive record. ‘That will speak for itself with results like that. The big man made saves in goal, Thiago was imperious whatever you want to say, experience and quality. Azpi next to him the captain.
‘I think the personnel in there playing and defending and doing the right things and making good decisions is great for us. As I say, we want more. It’s not a beautiful feeling in the dressing room because we know we can play better going forwards.
‘If you come to Manchester United and don’t concede that gives you a great base. Things to improve on but we have to praise things that were good and the clean sheet was very good.’
