Chelsea News: Zouma's decision, Lampard shocks, Kepa's injury update and player rankings

The first match of Chelsea's pre-season tour in Japan ended in a defeat.

A goal from Tottenham Hotspur's former Leandro Damiao, allowed Kawasaki Frontale to win 1-0 and Frank Lampard's team is expected to bounce back against Barcelona next week.

However, the new head coach of the Blues will not be too concerned about defeat because it is a pre-season after all and the focus is on the performance and development of the players before the new campaign.

The Lampard team has scheduled several more friendly matches before the kickoff of the Premier League against Manchester United on August 11.

Although the transfer window is relatively silent with respect to entry, a transfer ban means that the Blues will not be able to register new players before the deadline.

That said, fans still have a lot of exciting things to expect. Here is the news from Stamford Bridge in the last 24 hours.

The future of Zouma

The French international was loaned to Everton last season, so much so that the boss of the Toffees, Marco Silva, wanted to relocate him permanently to Goodison Park.

However, this will not happen.

Lampard spoke of Kurt Zouma's future following the defeat against Kawasaki Frontale and made it clear that he wanted the defender to stay.

"As for Kurt Zouma, he is a very good defender for us, a very good player, a very good person and a professional," Lampard told reporters. "I want it here, as simple as that.

"We are competitive with the central defenders of the team, he has had a very good season at Everton and I can understand why they want him, he's a Chelsea player and I want him. He is happy and that he works really hard.

"If he's competing for a position and playing well, he's playing."

The second chance of Kenedy

It is clear that the slate was cleared after Lampard's appointment as head coach.

And that means some players who were on loan last season could be well-received for 2019/2020.

Kenedy is one of the players in question, who seems to have attracted the attention of Lampard.

"As for Kenedy, my impression of being part of a big team with a transfer ban was that I had to evaluate players as long as I could in pre-season to make sure we had chosen a team with me who was watching them well in training and games.

"If Kenedy continues to show attitude and play as he did today, then he is well placed to stay here .I know that he was on loan during past seasons and is part of the group. "

Full story.

Updates on Kepa an Abraham's wound

Lampard is hoping to have Tammy Abraham and Kepa Arrizabalaga back for the next pre-season Chelsea match against Barcelona.

Neither team has faced Kawasaki Frontale after catching illness, but the Blues are playing another game on Tuesday against the La Liga champions in Saitama.

"Diseases are not related." Tammy Abraham has tonsillitis and Kepa has reported a stomach bug this afternoon, "said Lampard.

"I'm not a doctor, but I think it's consistent with what I've already mentioned about planes, a lot of players do not sleep and have different difficulties, and that's what's going on between these two players.

"I do not expect that one or the other is too long.Tammy is already healing and I hope that the two will be in the running for Barcelona the week next. "

Ratings

As mentioned above, Chelsea was beaten for the first time under Lampard.

Football.londres were present and here is how we evaluated the Blues in both halves.

Notes from the first half

Scoring in second half