Scolari gets tough with his dead-ball dead-beats ahead of Chelsea's showdown at Manchester United


Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has ordered his players to do extra training on set pieces this week to ensure their title hopes aren’t derailed against Manchester United on Sunday.

Scolari and Deco

Preparation is key: Chelsea boss Scolari and Deco re-arrange the faux wall in training

Scolari’s side have paid the price for poor defending from dead ball situations a number of times in recent months and the Brazilian is determined to put a stop to it.

They have conceded goals against Liverpool, Roma, Arsenal, Bordeaux and West Ham to their cost in the Premier League and Champions League over the past three months.

In their last two games they allowed Fulham and Southend to score in the final minute to secure draws in games the Blues had dominated.

It has played a part in the team dropping three points behind Liverpool in the Premier League, while they now face an unwelcome FA Cup Third Round replay at Southend next week.

But first they face the tough task of playing at Manchester United and midfielder Frank Lampard reveals Scolari has got tough to try and put a stop to the errors.

He said: 'We have been working on set pieces this week. The errors have been very frustrating for everyone involved because we do work on them in training anyway.

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 Frank Lampard

Don't look now: Southend's players celebrate in front of their fans at Stamford Bridge as Frank Lampard walks away

'Sometimes it has been an individual error or a collective one, but it has been very important because we have dominated the last two games and we lost out on a set piece in the final minute each time.

'We can’t afford to let that happen against a team of Manchester United’s calibre.'

Captain John Terry, meanwhile, has admitted he is disappointed Wayne Bridge has left the club.

Bridge joined Manchester City in a £12million deal at the weekend and Terry said: 'The thing with Bridgey is he could play left-back or left-midfield and he is a great crosser of the ball and gets up and down, so we will miss him.

'I’m still in shock because it’s a shame to see one of the lads go who you have grown up with. I’m disappointed, but for him it was the right decision.'


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