M-U-R-T-Y
Spitting image.
lampard in hot water over penalty.
As for Chelsea; they vanquished the unbeaten league leaders, eased the pressure on their manager and brought a telling contribution from Frank Lampard. Problem is, that contribution should never have happened.
Having missed his previous two penalties, Lampard slammed a powerful shot down the middle eight minutes from time.
The Englishman conversed at length with Juan Mata before the kick, and after the game Villas-Boas confirmed why:
"We assigned Mata to take it, but Frank took the ball off him and he scored."
For a man of Villas-Boas's attention to detail, it seems almost inconceivable that there should be confusion over who takes penalties.
Anyone who has played Football Manager knows you just have to write a priority order of takers, and the guy who is highest on the list takes the penalty.
Clearly, Villas-Boas changed the order before yesterday's game, putting Mata ahead of Lampard.
Yes Lampard scored, but to disobey his manager's wishes amounts to a serious breach of discipline, and does nothing to dispel the notion that Chelsea's senior players wield too much power.
@ AVB
