Lampard: Getting Reece fit regularly
26 APR 2023
With Reece James having played through the pain barrier in the most recent game and with that effort coming at a cost, Frank Lampard has praised the player’s commitment and outlined what must be a long-term goal for him to be on the pitch more frequently.
Selected to start at right wing-back against Real Madrid, James played the whole of our Champions League quarter-final match at Stamford Bridge. Having suffered a hamstring injury during the game, he played on as the Blues attempted to turn around a deficit from the first leg and as Lampard revealed yesterday, he is now ruled out for the rest of the season.
Adding to that fitness update, Lampard has confirmed his appreciation for the sacrifice James made as he did his best to keep Chelsea in the competition.
‘It's important that players are prepared to go that extra mile,’ said our caretaker manager. ‘Knowing him as a lad I'm not surprised. I think Reece was also possibly the best player on the pitch with a dodgy hamstring so it goes to show his level as a player.
‘With Reece, we have to find a way that we can get all that capacity he's got and get more constant with his availability at times, because he's such a top player. Mason is the same, he has been playing through [an injury] because he wants to contribute to the club and players who really want to contribute to Chelsea are what it's all about.
‘If you don't have that type of desire then you can't be a top player for Chelsea. So those two are the epitome of that.
‘I don't think it's about loving Chelsea necessarily,’ Lampard clarified. ‘It's about having a pride in what you do and loving playing football, and understanding that it takes real motivation and desire and the basics before you even get to the finer details. It should be a prerequisite for players playing in a team when you want to be a top team in the Premier League.’
James has not had good fortune with injury the past couple of seasons but Lampard argues against suggestions there is something fundamental that is a concern for the 23-year-old’s future.
‘Sometimes there's an element of misfortune, or having to play every three days with a lot of exertion on your bodies for the young lads sometimes can be a bit taxing, but I don't think it's a problem.
‘Because you understand absolutely what Reece gives this team both offensively and defensively, your eyes are drawn to the fact when he's not there. So we want to get him as fit as he can be regularly because he is a top player.’
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Lampard: I can’t give answer on Mount
26 APR 2023
Having yesterday reported that Mason Mount’s season might possibly be at an end due to injury, Frank Lampard has been asked whether that means there is a chance the midfielder could have already played his last game for Chelsea.
Against a background of continuing contract negotiations, Mount has been hampered in recent months by a pelvic problem which has limited his on-pitch involvement. It has now been decided that minor surgery is the necessary next step. A possible return for the final game of the season has not been ruled out but as that may not happen and a new contract is yet to be resolved, it led to Lampard being quizzed on Mount being seen in our blue again.
‘That is a conversation between Mason and the club, so I don’t know the answer to that,’ the caretaker manager responded. ‘It's not final at this point. We’ll have to see because those conversations are ongoing.
‘To be honest, at this point it's not my opinion that will be the resolution,’ he added. ‘It will be the opinion of the club and the opinion of Mason. I think my opinion is pretty clear. I don’t need to spell it out what I think of Mason as a player but it is not my one to get into. It is between them.
‘It is something that's going to become clearer I guess over the next weeks or months, and it will be the club and Mason together having conversations so we’ll see.’
Lampard was however prepared to talk about missing the England international on the pitch in recent and coming weeks, and about his form this season when he has been fit to play.
‘It's a shame for me personally because everyone knows how I feel about working with Mason, I’d like to think he feels the same about me, and we could certainly have done with him in the games we have played already.
‘With form for a young player, people can analyse and question form and very quickly forget the consistency that Mason's shown in this period since he has broken through. I have been a part of that in the beginning and then he carried on with that after I left, for his country as well.
‘You forget how young he is because he's so mature as a player that all these managers have trusted him so much. There was a drop in form and I think it's more than understandable. Every player has that, particularly in the developing years, but there is no doubt for me that Mason is a top-class player in what he brings the team with or without possession.
‘Form will always waver slightly but the top players manage great consistency and as a player who has been Chelsea Player of the Year for a couple of seasons with a lot of top players around him, people think it is easy to play with top players around you, but to be the stand-out one is not easy and he has managed to do that.’
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