Alan Shearer makes prediction about Chelsea FC’s season
Alan Shearer forecasts Chelsea FC's hopes ahead of the new Premier League season
Alan Shearer is tipping Chelsea FC to struggle at both ends of the pitch under Frank Lampard this season.
The Blues watched Eden Hazard leave and join Real Madrid at the start of the summer transfer window and they were unable to sign new players due to their transfer ban.
Chelsea FC did manage to add Christian Pulisic and Mateo Kovacic to their squad ahead of the new campaign, but only because those deals were done before the punishment was handed out.
The west London side also opted to let David Luiz move to Arsenal on deadline day as Lampard deemed the Brazilian to be surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues finished in third place in the Premier League last season, but Shearer is not expecting to see Chelsea FC finish in the top four this term and says they are likely to struggle in key areas.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Sport, Shearer said: “Chelsea might have problems at both ends of the pitch.
“In central defence, they look short of numbers after Luiz’s departure. They have got Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger – who is out with a knee injury – plus Kurt Zouma and Fikayo Tomori.
“They also look short of goals after Eden Hazard’s departure. They could not even try to replace him because of their transfer embargo, and life without him is going to be very difficult.
“It does seem odd not to be talking about Chelsea as potential title winners, because that has been the case most seasons since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
“But their circumstances are different right now. I am delighted that Frank Lampard has been given the opportunity to manage them, but he should get a little bit of leeway because his hands have been tied when it came to strengthening the squad.”
Chelsea FC will kick off their new campaign with a trip to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
The west London side finished third and won the Europa League last season before the Blues brought in Lampard to replace Maurizio Sarri at the helm.
