"What's this Championship lineup?" "Lampard is a terrible coach" - Chelsea fans fume as 2 players are benched for Manchester City clash
Chelsea fans are fuming to see Mykhaylo Mudryk and Noni Madueke on the bench for their clash against Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday, May 21. This will be City's first game after Arsenal's loss against Nottingham Forest confirmed them as the 2022-23 Premier League champions.
Mudryk, Madueke, and Joao Felix are all starting on the bench for Chelsea's clash against City. Frank Lampard's decision to use the experienced Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz as the attacking options has left fans disappointed.
Kepa Arrizabalaga starts between the sticks for the Blues. Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva, and Trevoh Chalobah are the three central defenders. Cesar Azpilicueta and youngster Lewis Hall are the two wing-backs.
Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek form the midfield trio while Sterling and Havertz are leading the attack.
The game is essentially a dead-rubber for both teams; Chelsea are safe from relegation and cannot finish in the European places while City's title has already been confirmed. Hence, fans wanted the young wingers, Mudryk and Madueke, to be given a chance.
Both players joined the club in January. Since then, Mudryk has made 15 appearances for the Blues, providing two assists. Madueke, on the other hand, has scored one goal in nine appearances so far this season.
One fan wrote on Twitter:
"What even is this championship line up though? Nah Lampard actually came back with the dream of winning The Championship with us."
Another claimed:
"Havertz and Sterling as the only attacking option again. Lampard is a terrible coach."
Here are some of the best Twitter reactions after Chelsea's lineup for the Premier League clash against Manchester City was announced:
@ChelseaFC @ParimatchGlobal What even is this championship line up though? Nah Lampard actually came back with the dream of winning The Championship with us ๐ญ
No Mudryk, no Joao Felix, No Noni Madueke in the lineup. This season should just end already
I canโt fucking wait till fat frank leaves this club where tf is Mudryk and madueke
No Madueke, no Mudrky, no Chukwuemeka. Idk what lamps is doing but awful coach.
@ChelseaFC @ParimatchGlobal Noni and Mudryk on the bench againโฆ THESE GAMES ARE POINTLESS..
@ChelseaFC @ParimatchGlobal Havertz and Sterling as the only attacking option again. Lampard is a terrible coach
@ChelseaFC @ParimatchGlobal Lampard is not fit to be a coach.
@ChelseaFC @ParimatchGlobal We are losing 8-0 bro
Can Chelsea deal with Manchester City's attacking threat?
Manchester City have been the best attacking unit in the Premier League this season, with 92 goals scored in only 35 matches. Their goal-scoring prowess was on full display when Pep Guardiola's team blew away Real Madrid in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The Cityzens defeated the defending champions 4-0 at the Etihad.
City enter the contest at the Etihad after being crowned the Premier League 2022-23 champions as a result of Arsenal's defeat against Nottingham Forest on May 20. Hence, they have put out a rotated line-up for the clash against the Blues, giving minutes to fringe players from their squad.
However, Chelsea will still need to be on their toes to keep the Cityzens from running riot. Guardiola's men will try to ensure that the party at the Etihad is accompanied by a positive result.