Frank Lampard gets Chelsea tactics right at Wembley as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer outwitted in FA Cup semi-final

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Giuseppe Muro19 July 2020

There were plenty of doubters who said Frank Lampard only got the Chelsea job because he was a club legend, but at Wembley he gave another reminder of the brilliant work he is doing at Stamford Bridge.

In what was the biggest game of his managerial career to date, Lampard got his tactics spot on as Chelsea booked an FA Cup Final meeting with Arsenal on August 1.

Lampard sprung a surprise by playing three at the back but the system worked perfectly as he outwitted Manchester United counterpart Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Chelsea are third in the Premier League, on course for Champions League qualification, into the FA Cup Final and also reached the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition - and all that after losing Eden Hazard last summer and having to deal with a transfer ban.

Whatever happens in the final next month, it has been an incredible debut season in the dugout.

Lampard won the FA Cup four times as a player and he will now have the chance to lift his first trophy as a manager after a day when it felt like his young Chelsea team came of age.

Mason Mount set the tone as Chelsea pressed high and kept Bruno Fernandes quiet by giving him no space in midfield. After Chelsea lost 3-0 at Sheffield United earlier this month, there were questions over whether they had enough leaders.

But Lampard felt they showed showed plenty of “character” and “personality” at Wembley. Lampard learned under Jose Mourinho how the first piece of silverware creates a winning culture and he knows this season’s FA Cup provides a similar opportunity for his team.

Frank Lampard tactically outwitted Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Chelsea reached the FA Cup Final on Sunday
AP

Chelsea were helped by some questionable goalkeeping from David De Gea, but that should take nothing away from a brilliant display.

Olivier Giroud once joked that Wembley is “my garden” and the Frenchman kept up his knack of scoring big goals at the national stadium. Giroud has now won all 12 of his club appearances at Wembley and he loves the FA Cup.

The 33-year-old has won this competition four times and his goal set Chelsea on their way to setting up a meeting with his former club Arsenal in the final.

Olivier Giroud continued his fantastic record at Wembley and will now face former club Arsenal on August 1
Pool via REUTERS

Giroud did a brilliant job up front and was man of the match as he got the better of Harry Maguire.

He had been written off earlier this season and looked set to leave Stamford Bridge in January, but has played a vital role since the restart.

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