Both Manchester United and Chelsea secured Champions League qualification on the final day of the Premier League season.Leicester were the unlucky party to miss out in the three-way battle, with United winning 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.The Blues secured fourth-place with a 2-0 win of their own over Wolves, a fine way to end an impressive debut season as a Premier League manager for Frank Lampard.Many wrote off the Chelsea boss before a ball was kicked this season, particularly after the departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid in the summer.But take your hat off to Lampard, he's steered the Chelsea ship mighty well and the Blues have an FA Cup final against Arsenal to look forward to on August 1 after seeing off United in the semi-final.
Even a surly Roy Keane was full of praise for Lampard during Sky Sports' coverage of yesterday's action, with the United legend saying he has outdone Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019/20."Frank’s done a better job [than Solskjaer], I have to say," Keane said, per Daily Mail."I expect them to be there or thereabouts, but the way they’ve played, the way Frank comes across, he comes across really well."There’s no nonsense about him, he’s made big decisions, he’s brought a lot of young players in, good players, good quality, but they’ve needed an opportunity, they took it.
"They finished in the top four and obviously if they can win an FA Cup, great achievement.
"But as Frank is reminding everybody, he’s not getting too carried away getting in the top four, but it’s huge step forward for Chelsea again."
When Keane is full of praise, you know you're doing something right.
Chelsea fans will now be eager to see what Lampard can do in 2020/21 with the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and - potentially - Kai Havertz at his disposal.
A title challenge may be a step too far next season, but the Blues are going to cause serious problems in both England and across Europe.