Antonio Rudiger held ‘positive talks’ with Frank Lampard as he looks to claw his way back into the Chelsea team.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard is reportedly ready to re-integrate the defender into his first-team plans.

The Germany international’s future under Chelsea boss Lampard appeared to be over after he was left out of the squad for six of the club’s first seven games of the season.

Indeed, Rudiger looked certain to leave Chelsea in January, with Paris Saint Germain and Tottenham both interested in taking him on loan.

He was heavily linked with a move away the London club in the summer, but it failed to materialise.

According to The Telegraph, he hopes to be given a chance to prove his potential at Chelsea.

It is reported that he has trained well since his return from international duty.

Ian Wright doesn’t sound too confident ahead of Arsenal’s clash against Manchester United on November 1.

The former Gunners star told Premier League Productions: “You look at Manchester United as well who are another team that will want to play on the break.

“You’re going to need to be able to pass through their team, be able to break them down.

“Manchester United will do the same thing [as Leicester] and they’ve got even better players going forward, more than just Vardy.

“It’s a tough one, we knew Leicester were going to be tough and we know Manchester United are going to be tough.

“Arsenal are going to have to dig in and find a way of getting results without scoring the perfect goal.”

Frank Lampard has insisted Hakim Ziyech is ‘coming close to starting a game with his fitness’ for Chelsea.

He said: “I am least worried about the front end of the pitch with the players that we have there.

“It is normal it will take some time for the relationships in the side to form, whether we want to play the ball in behind or to feet.

“We are in such an early part of the season and I know the qualities and the reasons we brought Timo and Kai to the club.

“I know the qualities we already have there and Hakim Ziyech is now looking like he is coming close to starting a game with his fitness.

“I am very happy with the players.”

Multiple reports in Spain claim that Barcelona club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has decided not to resign from his post following a lengthy board meeting on Monday afternoon.

It follows on from confirmation on Monday morning that the club’s request to delay the vote of no confidence on Bartomeu had been rejected by the authorities in the region.

That means that the club now must formalise the vote and a report from Diario Sport earlier on Monday said that the resignations of Bartomeu and the board were a real possibility from today’s meeting, but that will not be happening in the short-term.

According to Football Espana, the dates of 1 and 2 November had been confirmed by the club earlier this month for the no confidence vote, but there were suggestions it may be delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

20,687 votes were gathered for the motion against the supremo, passing the threshold of 16,250 signatures – with that number now matched in terms of verified signatures from the club.

The position of Bartomeu at Barcelona has come under great scrutiny in recent times following a trophyless campaign combined with Lionel Messi’s attempted forced exit from the club, which the board blocked.

Last month, Catalan police accused the beleaguered club supremo on corruption charges, although Bartomeu continues to deny such allegations.

Brendan Rodgers has revealed how Leicester set-up to exploit Arsenal’s new set-up.

Jamie Vardy came off the bench to secure Leicester City’s first-ever Premier League away victory against Arsenal as they won 1-0 at Emirates Stadium.

Vardy was a 60th-minute substitute after returning from injury, and with 10 minutes left he headed in from a cross by Cengiz Under after the Turkish midfielder was played through by Youri Tielemans.

Rodgers told BBC Sport: “No, I think it was obviously a different set-up [from Arsenal] but how our organization was, it was able to cope.

“It was just a few little changes, Xhaka coming out to the side meant that Dennis [Praet] could then press him instead of having to go on to the full-back, so that was just about detail.

“But apart from that it was about closing the lines, making sure our concentration was good, and then when we had the ball looking to play through.”

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Michael Essien joked Frank Lampard’s young guns wouldn’t have got into the Blues side he played in.

Essien and Lampard teamed up together in the middle of Chelsea’s midfield for years – with great success.

Essien told Goal: “The young players are doing well but I don’t know if they could play in my old team!

“I am joking because I like the young players, with the likes of Mason Mount, but you need to raise your game at Chelsea constantly.”

The Ghanaian added that his old team-mate, Lampard, needs time as boss to succeed.

“He [Lampard] is Chelsea, he knows the club inside out and what needs to be done.

“He will get the help of everyone there and I think so far that he has done a good job.

“Last season was a good achievement and it isn’t an easy place to manage. The fans can demand a lot so it isn’t easy, and he is doing his best.

“Football is full of ups and downs, you have to understand that. Get behind the team instead of not being happy after every bad result.

“The job is not easy so you have to be patient and push the team, then hopefully they will do well. They have added good players so they will have to deliver as a lot is expected now.”

Frank Lampard is ‘happy’ with Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz after the new signings copped some criticism.

Ex-Everton man Tim Cahill had a pop at them for dribbling too much but boss Lamps isn’t worried.

In his virtual press conference after the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, Lampard said: “I am least worried about the front end of the pitch with the players that we have there.

“It is normal that it will take some time for relationships [to build]. For when we have got to put the ball in behind, the ball into feet, clearly these things are going to take time to build. The reason we brought Timo and Kai into the club is to add to the quality we already have here.

“Hakim Ziyech is looking like he is getting close to starting a game with his fitness. I have no worries about that.

“The last bit didn’t happen for us today. It is normal, that happens in football but I am very happy with the players.”

Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has revealed why Chelsea were not given a penalty against Manchester United.

Harry Maguire was seen with his arms wrapped around Cesar Azpilicueta in the penalty area in the first half on Saturday.

He told Premier League Productions: “I think it’s solely because the ball is in play and he cleared it too quickly.

“I think he looked at it, cleared it very quickly and didn’t scrutinise it.

“I think when you look at it in depth, as we have, there’s no doubt whatsoever if Martin Atkinson is sent to the monitor, I think he’d make a different decision.”

Photo Credit: permierleague.com

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reckons a full Stretford End would have roared Manchester United on to victory against Chelsea.

Despite many indoor theatres and other venues being open to spectators, fans are still not permitted into football stadia due to coronavirus restrictions.

Solskjaer fumed: “If we had that stadium or the Stretford End full we could have created more urgency. It lacks, that game lacks.

“You’re here watching the game and it’s a different sport. We miss the fans.

“It’s the same for all teams but everyone agrees that football now has a little less in it, the edge has gone and we can’t wait to get the fans back.”

Chelsea will reportedly train in Russia ahead of their Champions League clash with Krasnodar despite concerns over coronavirus in the country.

The Mail cites reports from Russia claiming that some cities are seeing ‘bodies pile up in morgues’.

Workers filmed bodies in corridors of a morgue in Russian city of Novokuznetsk, in south east Russia

Indeed, German outlet Bild claims Bayern Munich have opted against training in Russia ahead of their clash with Lokomotiv Moscow tomorrow.

That means they will hold a final training session at their base in Germany before jetting to Russia’s capital for just the game.

However, Chelsea will take a chartered five-hour flight to Russia ahead of their game on Wednesday.

They will leave at 9.30am but due to the five-hour flight and three-hour time difference they will not arrive before tea-time and go straight to the stadium.

According to the report, officials from Chelsea have visited the stadium and the team’s hotel and they are satisfied that all the UEFA and Premier League coronavirus protocols are being followed.