Despite missing the decisive penalty which saw Chelsea lost the Super Cup to Premier League rivals, Liverpool, Blues manager, Frank Lampard has refused to criticise Nigerian-born forward, Tammy Abraham.
The former Aston Villa striker missed the fifth penalty for Chelsea in their Super Cup clash against Champions League winners, Liverpool.
The Blues went into the game as the underdogs but they matched their more illustrious opponent’s toe to toe, and they took the lead in the opening half through Olivier Giroud.
However, Liverpool hit back immediately after the break through Sadio Mane. With both teams failing to find the winner in normal time, the game went to extra time where Liverpool took the lead in the 94th minute through Sadio Mane once again.
But Chelsea would not go down without a fight and they got back on levelled terms through Jorginho’s penalty after Tammy Abraham was upended in the box by Adrian.
Jorginho’s goal ensured the match went into a penalty shoot-out which Liverpool won after Abraham missed for Chelsea. The miss capped a miserable first two games for the 21-year-old who was also criticised for his performance in the Blues 4-0 loss to Manchester United last Sunday.
Nevertheless, Lampard has thrown his backing behind the young striker, saying he will come back stronger. When asked about what he told Abraham after his miss, the former Manchester City star said: “I told him not to worry and the fact that he is confident to take the fifth penalty. I have been there, I have missed penalties, anyone can, and what I want is the confidence of young players to stand up and do that.”
Chelsea return to action on Sunday when they take on Leicester in Lampard’s first Premier League game as Blues manager at Stamford Bridge.
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It was poetic justice that Adrian saved from Abraham as the penalty he got should not have stood as Adrian didn't touch the cheating sod. The female ref was hoodwinked as she wouldn't be used to women footballers diving in the box.
The right team won.