Chelsea must realise dangers of relaxing after Ajax win, Frank Lampard says
Frank Lampard says he is driving home to Chelsea’s squad the dangers of relaxing after they recorded a sixth straight win at Ajax. His team face a tough game at Burnley and he is drawing on lessons learned before he became a manager.
“I remember being a player and having good runs of form, slightly relaxing in training in moments and the form turned and I had to reassess myself,” he said. “I always felt that as a player so I became, as I got older, more fearful of good patches, fearful of any form of relaxation, so I push that and the staff do too. I certainly am the one who drives that home because that was me.”
The 41-year-old emphasised that, rather than shouting, directness and consistency of message are the keys to ensuring his players listen.
“I’ve had a couple of words occasionally but I’m not a manager that is full of rollockings as such. I like to have a message that is pretty clear over a period of time that I try and drive home, and certainly if I ever felt there was a lack of effort in training or in a game then that would be the moment that I would go towards [rollockings].”
Lampard acknowledged that managing modern players requires tact. “I would not say that I played under any managers that gave it out … [Harry Redknapp] would have been the one who was the most vocal at times, throwing a sandwich or stuff. [The] old school thing,” he said, laughing. “If it’s a firm bollocking and you talk about being on edge then I think that is good in a positive way. But do it consistently – who wants that every day?”
played a lot in a front three, to the left, so we have that in our locker as well.
“I’m a bit reluctant to change the system but Joelinton and Dwight playing together is something we’re looking at because we need more goals. Gayle was an out-and-out No 9 for West Brom last season so we can look at the option of playing Joelinton on the left.”
Bruce trusts it will not be long before Carroll is also pressing for his first start. “Andy overstretched trying to reach a ball and hurt his groin,” he said. “But the good thing is that his ankle’s
OK; we hope he’ll be fit for next week.”