Former Chelsea manager Avram Grant has backed the Blues to fight for the Premier League title this season and has tipped one particular player to shine brightest of all.
The 65-year-old, who managed the Blues for eight months between September 2007 and May 2008, believes that incumbent head coach Frank Lampard ‘will be a very good manager’ in an interview with The National.
Grant went one step further and predicted a title tilt this season for the west Londoners, saying: ”You see the results now, what Chelsea have done this year. They did a very good job in the transfer window, and no doubt they will fight for the championship. I’m sure about this.”
Chelsea sit fifth in the league going into the current international break have seen a recent upturn in performances and results, coinciding with both improved defensive structure as well as the introduction of summer signing Hakim Ziyech. The Morocco winger is someone the Israeli rates very highly, tipping him to be the “sensation of the year.”
The 27-year-old former Ajax man has made an instant impact on Lampard’s side and has already contributed one goal and three assists in just four Premier League outings.
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Bold words from a former manager at the Bridge, but with Chelsea’s summer investment starting to show signs of coming together, Lampard must fancy the chances of his side mounting a title challenge, as stated in this Watford Observer article.
Any challenge seemed unlikely at the start of the campaign given the gap between the Blues and runaway duo Manchester City and Liverpool over the last two seasons.
However, with City stuttering and Liverpool suffering a major defensive injury crisis, the title race is suddenly wide open, and the York Press also noted that not many seem better placed than Chelsea to take advantage.
