Solskjaer content with Lukaku's transfer, Lampard ready for new challenge
The highly-anticipated clash could help both teams set the tone for the season.
In the first major game between two of the Big Six Premier League teams, Manchester United vs Chelsea will prove to be a reality check for both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Frank Lampard respectively as they take a new turn in their careers.
The United Boss starts his first full season at Old Trafford after getting in three new players while the Chelsea gaffer will make his top division debut on Sunday.
Talking ahead of the clash, Solskjaer mentioned the departure of Romelu Lukaku on the deadline day and the Norwegian tactician hinted on an interesting line-up ahead. He said, "Rom has a good record and stats he’s one of the top number nines around when you wanna play with that kind of striker, target man."
Ole on going up against Frank Lampard: "I'm just happy he's not playing, because he'd score goals wouldn't he? It's no different to any other manager really. I met him, we had a manager's meeting on Wednesday and I spoke to him then." #MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 9, 2019
"For me, I’m very confident that we'll get goals from Martial, Rashford, James will create, I’m sure Jesse Lingard will get more. We have a different attacking set-up this month."
And while talking about including their academy graduate Mason Greenwood, he said, "Towards the end of last season we didn’t score a lot of goals and you do think players will have an impact and Mason Greenwood pathway would have been a lot more different if we had another forward there."
"I believe Mason is going to be playing and involved a lot and when he is he’s going to score goals."
Along with Greenwood, Ole is hopeful of Alexis Sanchez to rediscover his form and help the team in every possible way. He said, "Alexis has come in and trained well, of course he’s four or five weeks behind the boys and he has not played apart from the one behind closed doors here," Solskjaer said. "I think he’ll see this as an opportunity as well to make his mark."
Comparatively, Lampard has a tougher challenge considering their transfer ban and the loss of Eden Hazard. Talking ahead of the game, Lampard insisted that he wants his squad to work equally in both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game.
"We have had a good pre-season, but now the real stuff is coming," said Lampard to Chelseafc.com.
"You can feel it in the air. I am excited and the players are excited, and now we have to deliver. With the ban it’s been very easy to write off this squad, but I am not writing it off. We are hungry to try and prove to everybody we will be up there this year. I believe in this squad."
Lampard's Chelsea vision "I want energy in my team. I want us to have possession of the ball. I want us to be an exciting team to watch so we can move the ball through the pitch quickly, and create chances." ⚡ pic.twitter.com/6GFa31dVYO
— Goal (@goal) August 10, 2019
Football pundits and media houses alike have written off the possibility of Lampard led Chelsea for a top 6 finish and the Blue legend is optimistic of proving them wrong.
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]"What’s important is you have one target within the group, and everyone else has their targets or predictions. I love listening to the radio and hearing people saying we’re not in the top four, and reading all those predictions. It means there is a challenge. There is nothing better in football than proving people wrong."
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