All-action McGinn up for a fight
Lamps: It’s difficult to keep touchline.. the FA should be sympathetic if bosses lose cool on more temper
vPremier League, Monday, 8pm
JOHN McGINN won’t ditch his Braveheart style in his bid to save Aston Villa from relegation.
The Scotland midfielder is on the brink of returning from injury after missing 13 games with a fractured ankle. He was injured making a rash challenge on Southampton’s Cedric Soares. But Villa boss Dean Smith says he can’t see his all-action star ditching his combative approach.
Smith, who prepares his men for Monday night’s trip to Leicester, said: “Curb his approach? From what I’ve seen of him back on the training ground so far. No.
“He’s trying to hit the crossbar from the halfway line as soon as he goes out for training, it’s just his way.
“We’ve missed him. Not just for his banter because he’s a funny lad, but it’s the quality he’s got.
“He gives you legs. He runs all day. He’s got a massive, massive heart. But sometimes people overlook the quality the kid has too.
“He’s a quality footballer and mentally he can handle anything, without a shadow of a doubt.”
FRANK LAMPARD has called for managers to be cut more slack when tempers boil over in the wake of Carlo Ancelotti’s red card.
Everton’s former Chelsea manager Ancelotti was handed an £8,000 fine by the FA this week, for his confrontation with referee Chris Kavanagh (below), after his side’s game with Manchester United last Sunday.
Lampard admitted last night he was pleased Ancelotti escaped a touchline ban, saying he is looking forward to taking on his old boss tomorrow at Stamford Bridge.
But the Chelsea manager hit out at the severity of the Italian’s punishment.
Lampard, part of Ancelotti’s Doublewinning Chelsea team in 2009-10, said: “It wasn’t the most vicious of reds, was it?
“I was surprised the sending off came. I’m on this side, I understand the emotions involved. I think that’s probably as heated, as high, as Carlo goes.
“It’s not easy to keep your emotions in check. Some days can rile you more than others. We’ve had VAR this year – which has brought in a different animal.
“Managers should be given some leeway in terms of how much you might lose your rag.
“Carlo wasn’t doing anything terrible. He seems to have taken his fine and moved on, and I’m pleased he’s on the touchline.
“I want to see him and go up against him.
“But you can lose it. You do have to try and stay the right side of the line, obviously, because everyone is watching, children are watching.
“People look up to you and you try to do the right thing.” In the title-winning season under Ancelotti, Chelsea scored a record 103 goals, and Lampard himself netted 27 from midfield – the best haul of his career.
And the Chelsea boss (with Ancelotti in 2010, above) said: “We scored a lot, particularly in the run-in to the title that season. We were fluid, we changed formation.
“He gave freedom to the players in terms of how we attacked. Tactically, he was very savvy. He was top-class on all levels.
“He was never too high, never too low. To have consistency in a manager is a great thing. You didn’t have those mood swings that maybe I have now – but that you try to keep a lid on!”
Lampard has major injury problems, with Mateo Kovacic out and Willian also struggling.
But he is set to bring back Willy Caballero in goal, despite Kepa Arrizabalaga’s fine display in the FA Cup win over Liverpool. He admitted: “Kepa has given me thoughts. He did very well, it’s exactly what I wanted from him.”