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Attendance: 32,186
Leicester logo
Premier League | Gameweek 25
Feb 1, 2020 at 12.30pm UK
 
Chelsea logo

2-2

Barnes (54'), Chilwell (64')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Rudiger (46', 71')

Tammy Abraham insists he can cope with status as Chelsea's main striker

The Blues failed to land a new striker in the January transfer window.

Tammy Abraham has told boss Frank Lampard he can rely on him to help fire Chelsea into the Champions League.

The 15-goal forward remains the club's main striker after the Blues' January frustrations.

They had their transfer ban lifted in December but did not make a signing last month despite being linked with Edinson Cavani and Timo Werner.

A move to Chelsea did not happen for Edinson Cavani
A move to Chelsea did not happen for Edinson Cavani (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Olivier Giroud failed to make the bench for Saturday's 2-2 draw at Leicester with Michy Batshuayi, Chelsea's other senior striker, an unused substitute.

Abraham is Lampard's first-choice forward and the England hitman insisted he can be the one to ease the manager's striker worries.

"Playing for a club like Chelsea there is always going to be pressure," he said, with the Blues third in the Premier League.

"For me it is about being in the right place at the right time and believing in myself and my abilities as well. I am sure I will score a few more. I like the pressure and I play under pressure.

"For me I can't complain, it has been a great season so far. I would like to push on. There are still massive games. I just have to be ready for them and take my opportunities."

Tammy Abraham is not afraid of newcomers threatening his place at Stamford Bridge
Tammy Abraham is not afraid of newcomers threatening his place at Stamford Bridge (Nick Potts/PA)

But the 22-year-old would have welcomed the competition at Stamford Bridge after his impressive first half of the season.

"The players we were talking about coming like Cavani and other top-class strikers who have been around in the game for many years," he said.

"It would have been nice if he had come. He would have been someone I can learn off and steal his ideas to add to my own. It didn't happen though and for me it gives me that extra push and desire to claim my position and be as best as I can."

Abraham played through the pain at the King Power Stadium after an ankle injury suffered at Arsenal last month.

Chelsea do not play again until hosting Manchester United on February 17 with Abraham relishing the chance for a mid-season break.

Antonio Rudiger scored twice as Chelsea drew with Leicester
Antonio Rudiger scored twice as Chelsea drew with Leicester (Nick Potts/PA)

He said: "My ankle is still painful but sometimes as players you have to play through pain. The medicine started to wear off in the second half but I will take this break to recover.

"I am definitely in favour of the break. I can't wait. It is needed really after a long hard first few months of the season."

Saturday's draw kept the Blues eight points behind third-placed Leicester, with the Foxes 12 points ahead of Tottenham, who sit fifth, in the race for the Champions League.

Antonio Rudiger scored twice for the visitors with Harvey Barnes netting for the Foxes and boss Brendan Rodgers urged them to book a top-four spot.

Rodgers said: "From the start of the season we were nowhere near the budget levels of the top six teams. We were classed in a group along with West Ham, Everton and Wolves as possible teams who could maybe break into the top six.

"All the trends have shown the gap between sixth and seventh is getting bigger. We're not settling for that, we want to finish off the final 13 games as strong as we can."

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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