Chelsea FC looked a lot better in the midweek loss to Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup than they did in the season opening blowout at Manchester United. With that in mind, you can expect Chelsea manager Frank Lampard to put out a first team on Sunday that is very similar to the starting XI that he selected in Istanbul.
The main storyline to emerge from that match centers around Tammy Abraham, who suffered racial abuse online after his penalty miss that ended the match. Lampard, rightfully so, has blasted those have abused Abraham online, calling out the disgusting keyboard tough guys.
“I am particularly disgusted by a so-called Chelsea fan,” the 41-year-old said at his Friday news conference.
“To see the different ends of the spectrum of the evening, Tammy Abraham asked me to take the fifth penalty, because he wanted to take it, wanted to stand up, wanted to be brave on a big night when the world is watching.”
“At the same time, within moments, somebody sitting behind a keyboard or a phone has said the most disgusting things possible you can say.
“I don’t know how on these platforms it’s allowed that people can do it. It’s too easy to be done so something needs to be done as well as changing people’s mindsets completely.
“That might not be easy with everybody, but I’m so angry for Tammy, angry for us as a club because that’s not what we’re about. The club does a lot of work against discrimination at all levels and it’s a setback when these things happen.”
Lampard can certainly empathize with Abraham right now, as both have been unfairly and egregiously scapegoated for the team’s first two results. Christian Pulisic, the American winger brought over from Borussia Dortmund in January for $73 million has vocally defended both Abraham and Lampard.
Chelsea FC Team News
Winger Willian and central defender Antonio Rudiger were named to the bench for the Super Cup, but are not likely ready for starting positions in this clash.
Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction (4-3-3) home opener vs Leicester City
Christian Pulisic Olivier Giroud Pedro
Mateo Kovacic Jorginho N’Golo Kante
Cesar Azpilicueta Kurt Zouma Andreas Christensen Marcos Alonso
Kepa Arrizabalaga
Leicester City at Chelsea FC FYIs
Kickoff: Sunday, August 19, 4:30 pm, Stamford Bridge
Google Result Probability: Chelsea FC win 56% Draw 26% Leicester City win 18%
Score prediction: Chelsea FC 2, Leicester City 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
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