Source: Daily_Mail
Frank Lampard: Chelsea have lacked quality and work-rate
Frank Lampard has said Chelsea have lacked 'quality and work-rate' during their recent dismal Premier League run and warned his Blues team-mates it is time to turn their season around. [LNB]The Blues have suffered their worst form in 15 years in picking up just 10 points in 11 games, leaving them nine points behind leaders Manchester United and their title defence in a perilous position.[LNB] But Lampard's double strike helped Carlo Ancelotti's men to a morale-boosting 7-0 FA Cup third-round win at home to Ipswich, and the England star now says it is time for Chelsea to dig deep and repair the damage done to their league campaign. [LNB] What a contrast: Frank Lampard and his Chelsea team-mates celebrate the 7-0 FA Cup win over Ipswich (above) but looked dejected just days earlier after defeat at Wolves (below)[LNB] [LNB] 'The important thing is not to think we're back but make sure that we carry this performance over and get a few wins together,' Lampard told the Evening Standard. [LNB]'Earlier in the season we were up at the top of the table playing great stuff but now we're not and it's a test of the squad and a test of the character. [LNB]'You can't always be winning Leagues and going on a great run where you're winning 5-0, 6-0, 7-0, like we were at the back end of last season. Sometimes it's not rosy and that's when you have to stand up individually, put your hard work in and help the team turn it around.[LNB] Back to their best: Lampard (right) netted twice during Chelsea's huge win over the Tractor Boys[LNB] 'There was a time like this near the end of the Luiz Felipe Scolari reign when we were struggling to get wins. Everyone has spells like that to an extent but this one has been a little more prolonged over a period of time. That's the upsetting thing. It is certainly time for us to change it now.[LNB] 'Not winning games is the biggest thing that has affected us. There are quite a few reasons for that, a lack of confidence being one of them, but there has also been a lack of quality and work-rate. We need to step it up across the board to get back to where we want to be. [LNB] Good to be back: Lampard's goals were his first from open play since his long injury lay-off ended in December[LNB] 'Everyone at Chelsea understands we're not expected to have the run of results we've had. We have high standards and the results we've had the last two months is not the level we expect. [LNB] 'The League games coming up are very important and we need to take the spirit and energy we showed against Ipswich, which has maybe been lacking before, into the next few matches.' [LNB] Carlo Ancelotti demands more from his side despite 7-0 thumping of IpswichChelsea 7 Ipswich 0: Tractor ride - relief for Carlo as holders smash sevenSteve Clarke named Liverpool's new No 2 under Kenny DalglishCHELSEA FC
