City will feel loss of Leroy
Blues star must learn lesson
FRANK LAMPARD says Callum Hudson-odoi needs to learn his lesson after a brush with the law during lockdown.
The England winger, 19, was arrested after being accused of rape but later welcomed a decision by the Metropolitan Police to end their investigation.
Speaking for the first time about the incident, Chelsea boss Lampard (above) has warned the teenager, who was among the first footballers to test positive for coronavirus.
Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Aston Villa, Lampard said: “I’m very happy that in the eyes of the law it’s been sorted out. That was my main concern at first. So that’s positive for us.
“I’m very sympathetic to the idea that we’re not angels or saints and we make mistakes, particularly at a young age.
“I will never be one to come down too harshly, albeit we have had conversations, myself and Callum.
“The big conversation with Callum now is to make sure he learns his lesson.
“He broke lockdown and that wasn’t good enough. He’s admitted that and we move on. The next thing is to train consistently at a really high level.”
Lampard has told Hudson-odoi and Tammy Abraham they need to step up a level to compete with Timo Werner. Germany star Werner sealed a £47.5m switch from RB
Leipzig this week and with
DEAN SMITH says Aston Villa will try to do a job on the man who shot them back into the Premier League. Villa entertain Chelsea tomorrow afternoon aiming to stop Tammy Abraham (left) – last season’s 26-goal loan hero. Abraham, 22, has been given his big break by Frank Lampard and has repaid that faith with 16 goals this campaign. And Villa boss Smith
Chelsea still chasing Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz and Leicester’s Ben Chilwell, Lampard has challenged his youngsters to respond.
But Lampard said: “I have spoken to Tammy before on the idea of competition and I don’t feel the need to address every player after one comes in.
“Tammy has had a really good season for us and he has to improve on that because at Chelsea we have demands.
“We must have competition for places. I am pleased with the idea of that.
“Where we couldn’t do as much business in the last couple of windows for whatever reasons, it’s given us a chance to see some youth have more time in the team.
“But we were very clear about the fact we wanted to improve. And Timo
Werner is a signing that will improve us.
“I’m certainly very excited to have him.”
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PEP GUARDIOLA admitted he will be disappointed to lose Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich this summer.
The Manchester City boss has conceded his flying winger seems hellbent on leaving after rejecting all the club’s offers of a new deal.
But Guardiola said it will leave a hole in his squad if a deal goes through.
“Leroy said he doesn’t want to extend. It means he wants to leave and will leave this summer,” said Guardiola.
“I’m so disappointed. When we make an offer it’s because we want him, he’s got a special quality that is difficult to find.
“We tried to extend his deal before the injury and he rejected.
“If we get an agreement, he’ll leave. If not, then, he’ll stay one more year and then leave.”
Bayern are understood to have offered £30m for a player who has 12 months left on his deal.
But City are prepared to play hardball and let Sane run down his contract and leave for nothing next summer unless a fee in the region of £50m is agreed.