FRANK LAMPARD CANNOT call N’Golo Kante for the Chelsea FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
The trip to Wembley on Sunday follows a series of unconvincing performances by the Blues, which are also battling United for a place in the next season’s Champions League.
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But the calming presence of the French midfielder won’t help support Lampard’s team.
The manager said in the press conference on Friday: “The squad is fine, but N’Golo Kante will not be suitable for the game, otherwise we have a few problems.”
After a 1-0 win over Norwich, big questions remain about this Chelsea team, but it was far from the clinical performance the coach would have hoped for.
After a devastating three goal loss at Sheffield United, Lampard’s attempt to get more out of his team was not entirely convincing.
With a balanced front three, Lampard’s midfield and defense are very questionable.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho and Matteo Kovacic started on Tuesday evening, but Kante cannot return after an injury.
Switching the French for Loftus-Cheek might have been a more defensive approach, especially when you look at United’s dangerous playmakers Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba.
Instead, Loftus-Cheek could stay in place, or Chelsea could turn to Ross Barkley and Mason Mount for more attack power in the FA Cup semi-finals.
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Marcos Alonso returned to the team that defeated Norwich, and his admission on Sunday will be decided in the similar attack-and-defense decision Lampard faces.
Bringing Cesar Azpilicueta in the left back position and starting Reece James in the right back is arguably a more steadfast approach, although the academy product has less experience in big games.
James, Kovacic and Jorginho were selected to start in the Chelsea loss to United in the Premier League in February.
Finally, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rüdiger meet the two central defenders, and Kepa Arrizabalaga can be eliminated for cup goalkeeper Willy Caballero.
