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Frank Lampard defends Chelsea's disappointing defensive record after six-goal Southampton thriller

AFP via Getty Images
AFP via Getty Images

Frank Lampard has defended Chelsea’s defensive record after Saturday’s collapse against Southampton.

The 3-3 draw at Stamford Bridge means Lampard’s side have now conceded 63 goals in his 43 games in charge.

While Lampard admits Chelsea desperately need to discover their defensive resolve after just two wins from their first four Premier League games, he believes the damning statistics are misleading.

He said: “I am aware of the stats and the other stat is that since I’ve been here, we’ve conceded the second least shots in the Premier League, I think behind Manchester City.

“It helps to sometimes to narrow down some of the issues. The issues are that we don’t concede many shots on our goal, but when we do, we concede goals.

“It is something we are all aware of when we look at recruitment. More importantly than that you are aware when you work on the pitch with the players.

“We don’t concede many chances, but the chances we concede, we let in too much. It is something we work on specifically.”

Chelsea face Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Lampard believing they have learned their lessons from elimination to eventual winners Bayern Munich last season.

“It’s a great platform to learn from,” he said. “In the Champions League you play the best. We played the best against Bayern. It shows you their quality and that we were a young team last year.

“Bayern was a great marker for the young players in the squad to realise the the levels that needs to be attained. I remember that myself as a player.”