Frank Lampard: Hard to see rivals catching Chelsea

Chelsea great Frank Lampard has thrown his support behind Antonio Conte’s men, stating that he doesn’t think their rivals can close their commanding points advantage.

As we head into Christmas (yey!), Chelsea are clear at the top of the Premier League by six points. Throughout the Blues’ eleven-game winning streak, their rivals have floundered and flailed, dropping numerous points in winnable games. Given that, Frank Lampard is finding it hard to look past Antonio Conte’s men.

Speaking to Sky Sports at the PDC World Darts Championship, the ex-Chelsea player firmly threw his support behind his former club.

"I don’t like to tempt fate but I can’t see anyone who has got the consistency to close the gap, so I fancy Chelsea strongly now…I think barring suspensions or injuries to top players like [Eden] Hazard and [Diego] Costa, I fancy them to carry it through."

It has been some three months for everyone involved with Chelsea. From being on the verge of another campaign-long crisis, the Blues are now at the summit of English football. Conte’s decision to prematurely switch to a back three has worked wonders and Chelsea are now in pole for the title.

While the club’s initial ascent was attributed to a purple patch, the fact that the streak has been extended to such lengths is indicative of the team’s quality. The Blues continue to overcome any obstacle laid in their path and they have shown an ability to win ugly when necessary.

The key factor, though, is indeed injuries. Chelsea’s starting eleven are of title-winning calibre, but injuries to Eden Hazard or Diego Costa could derail the challenge. Having said that, it’s akin to saying an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo would hamper Real Madrid’s La Liga bid. Each team has their key player and thus there is always a risk.

Nonetheless, few will be able to disagree with Lampard’s statements. Are you one of them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!