The manager feels at a disadvantage with the league’s decision to give them a short time between fixtures at the end of December.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has hit out at his side’s schedule, saying having matches against Arsenal and Aston Villa within a 48-hour race is a win for title contenders his side.
The Blues will not be able to play their strongest XI for both games – against Arsenal on Boxing Day and Villa on Monday – which will take place in a season that already features a thick record due to coronavirus disseminated disease.
Meanwhile, Man Utd have three days between their two games and Liverpool and Tottenham have four days.
Lampard blames both the Premier League and the broadcasters for not finding a solution that offers a more level playing field for teams at the top of the table.
“It’s two games in two days, 48 hours,” Lampard said. “I’m not trying to be smart, it’s an important point for us because there are other teams at the top of the league who play two games in three days.
“Manchester United, Tottenham, Liverpool play two games in three or four days. It is against the quality of the Premier League, it is a danger for players if they are going to play both games at elite sports. in the end, everyone knows that.
“And I know clearly what happened to this guy too; the game is being broadcast live like they are all now. And we play Arsenal on Boxing Day, and we have the game with Man City that -now pushed to Sunday (January 3).
“So the schedule meant we couldn’t play, and Aston Villa also wanted to play on Tuesday, they wanted an extra day, so we did. But we got control of it. both from the Premier League and the broadcasters.
“I know in partnership with each other, and this was kicked around, it was decided that we would play twice in 48 hours when other opposing teams at the top of the league play twice in three days.
“I don’t see it as a fair playing field, I think it’s wrong and it’s not going to be as good for the players who are playing at the highest level. Don’t get me wrong me, Aston Villa have the same problem.
“But I’m just saying we don’t get the same amount of rest that other teams get. It’s not good even for the players to go out and train without being allowed to play to a high of 90 minutes. Everyone in that Premier League knows that. “
Lampard has admitted, because of the record, that he will have to turn a side on Monday against Villa after the game against the Gunners.
“The broadcasters are looking for the best result, so I have to turn players around,” Lampard said. “I need to see from behind Arsenal where players are; everyone is different.
“Christmas is usually the hectic time but the hectic time has been through this season and I understand it. So every little win you get by use common sense to put forward a game that will be broadcast on a day to be pushed one day and broadcast on another day, give these small benefits to try to help a player benefit.
“That’s how I see it. This position, 26th and 28th for us, when others are not, hurts the players if they’re going to play those two games, and maybe I think that it also damages the competition for the sake of others, you do not have to do the same, and it is clear that it is not enough time. for top level football players.
“I have sympathy for the recording; I have sympathy for the difficult times if we can try to work together to find the best solution and sometimes there is none. Everyone loves football and they want the season to end with the Champions League following and international football to continue.
“But when you have two teams that want a game to be played one day later to try and get their best players on the pitch as fit as they can, why not do that? that surprises me. “
Chelsea’s pre-Christmas win over West Ham saw them rise to fifth place in the table ahead of a busy record at the end of December.