FRANKLY, CALLUM MUST WORK HARDER Lampard tells Hudson-Odoi to graft to be as good as Sterling
FRANK LAMPARD has issued a stark challenge to Callum Hudson-Odoi – you can be the new Raheem Sterling by knuckling down and working hard.
The Chelsea manager was critical of the young England winger after his comeback from injury in Wednesday’s 7-1 Carabao Cup win over Grimsby.
And last night Lampard doubled down on his position on the 18-yearold, who put pen to paper on a new £120,000-a-week contract a few weeks ago.
He said: “I say it as I see it. Callum has huge talent, hence why the club were so keen to get him signed up.
“But there’s a lot of work for Callum to do. Sterling is an incredible example of a player with great talent whose work ethic added to that talent, and improvement through absolute dedication, has made him the complete player we are all wowed by.
“He is exactly the model for Callum because he has those talents. I want Callum to be the absolute best because he has the potential.
“A lot of that is handing out some hard truths – and I saw hard truths in the game the other day – ways he can improve. He needs to listen to them and he will. And then he can be that player for us.
“Some young players need cajoling, some definitely need tough words to help them improve.” Lampard, whose
Vside host Brighton today still hunting their first home win in the league, is delighted with the way the supporters have reacted to his young team.
He said: “I bump into the fans all the time. People are very supportive about what we’re trying to do. It’s nice to see that. But I don’t want too much sympathy when I don’t win.
“I want to repay that – and quickly. The fans see that it may take time, which is pleasing. But I don’t expect credit because I played for the club or because of what we won in an era gone by.”
Chelsea lost 2-1 at home to Liverpool last Sunday, but put up a rousing performance, especially in the second half.
Lampard said: “Fans will always react to passion, desire, work ethic and fight. Sometimes the result is not the biggest thing but they will always enjoy winning first and foremost.
“I want to win games. The young players have brought a different dimension, the fans are loving seeing them come through. But now I want to give them wins.”
CHELSEA (probable): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Tomori, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Mount; Abraham. BRIGHTON (probable): Ryan; Webster, Dunk, Burn; Montoya, Stephens, Propper, Mooy; Murray, Maupay, Gross.