SEVILLA WA
Lampard admits he had to have tough co
FRANK LAMPARD admitted he had to have “tough” conversations with Callum Hudson-Odoi after axing the Chelsea winger.
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Lampard Lampar will give HudsonOdoi another anot chance in Seville tonight, but has warned competition competit in the squad means he will have to get used to being left le out.
The 20-year-old 20-y England star has had a stop-start year at Chelsea, but appeared to be finding his way back to form last week as he scored in their Champions League win at Rennes (celebrating his goal, far right).
But Hudson-Odoi did not even make Chelsea’s bench for Sunday’s draw with Tottenham, and that has become a new reality for “four or five” regulars because the Blues have such strength in depth.
Chelsea boss Lampard said: “It was tough and I have tough decisions when we have a fully fit squad l have elite hard throu desperate but I have “I d per w wh no pro gett “But times whe to sit out a will be wit “So, he’s I want to progressio
are times when he’s not starting or not in the squad, the main thing is that I want him to stay positive, and I suppose that is part of my job to have that communication level.
“His reaction to me saying that to him was great, his reaction since in training has been great, and I’m sure he’ll show that again when he plays.”
Hudson- Odoi ( wi th Lampard, far left) made a huge breakthrough at Chelsea, but an Achilles injury plus being caught breaking lockdown rules, pegged back his progress, while extra competition from
Timo Werner (inset), Hakim Ziyech, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic has limited his chances even more.
Bayern Munich are longterm admirers, but Lampard insists he cannot worry about the “noise” around players because it is impossible keep everyone happy.
Lampard added: “We are talking about a squad where I have to leave out four or five players maybe per game.
“If I thought about every player and the risk, then I would never make a decision, and I wouldn’t be able to do the job.
“There’s competition in that area, that’s the reality of playing for Chelsea. I’m not worried about the noise around it or the permutations of what leaving someone out of the squad might mean down the line. I said it before and I to said it to the players yers at the start of the season, eason, most Premier League eague teams have big squads. quads.
“Tottenham, for instance, at the weekend – they y had Gareth Bale on the bench and Dele Alli not there. It has s to be a strength, not weakness.
“At the moment, nt, I feel the group is really strong and d it’s why players s will get the minutes ne they deserve against Sevilla.”