AVB sees role for Lampard
Source: Agencies |
December 8, 2011, Thursday
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ENGLAND midfielder Frank Lampard still has a major role to play at Chelsea despite being left out of the team that beat Valencia 3-0 on Tuesday to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, manager Andre Villas-Boas said.
Lampard, 33, who has played in over 500 matches for Chelsea since joining from West Ham United 10 years ago, was an unused substitute as Villas-Boas opted for a midfield three of Oriol Romeu, Raul Meireles and Ramires against the Spanish team at Stamford Bridge.
However, Villas-Boas, who also took Lampard off during Saturday's 3-0 Premier League win at Newcastle United, said he was in contention to face Premier League leader Manchester City on Monday.
"Frank has been fantastic. We have to select 11 and he wasn't in this 11," Villas-Boas said. "Important players have been left out at Chelsea, players of immense talent.
"He has been in a fantastic moment and is sure to threaten for the starting 11 on Monday.
"He is one of the greatest players in the world but this choice was three players in midfield because of their technical ability to keep possession and keep it on the ground without a lot of long balls. We know that Frank can also do this but he was not our choice for this game. He will certainly come back in the future. He has been fantastic in the way he has taken these tough decisions."
Chelsea won easily on Tuesday to top the group with two goals from experienced striker Didier Drogba, who also set up a goal for Ramires.
Although Villas-Boas was delighted to top the group, which means it will avoid Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 16 draw, he could not resist hitting back at the media who had criticized him in recent weeks after it had lost three of four matches.
"We see a "Manchester United" defender (Gary Neville) say in the preparations for the game things like, 'I don't want to be one of the Chelsea players today, I couldn't play this game and it is a difficult game for them'. This is out of this world for me, I don't believe this. This is a continuous persecution, it is aggression towards one club."
Lampard, 33, who has played in over 500 matches for Chelsea since joining from West Ham United 10 years ago, was an unused substitute as Villas-Boas opted for a midfield three of Oriol Romeu, Raul Meireles and Ramires against the Spanish team at Stamford Bridge.
However, Villas-Boas, who also took Lampard off during Saturday's 3-0 Premier League win at Newcastle United, said he was in contention to face Premier League leader Manchester City on Monday.
"Frank has been fantastic. We have to select 11 and he wasn't in this 11," Villas-Boas said. "Important players have been left out at Chelsea, players of immense talent.
"He has been in a fantastic moment and is sure to threaten for the starting 11 on Monday.
"He is one of the greatest players in the world but this choice was three players in midfield because of their technical ability to keep possession and keep it on the ground without a lot of long balls. We know that Frank can also do this but he was not our choice for this game. He will certainly come back in the future. He has been fantastic in the way he has taken these tough decisions."
Chelsea won easily on Tuesday to top the group with two goals from experienced striker Didier Drogba, who also set up a goal for Ramires.
Although Villas-Boas was delighted to top the group, which means it will avoid Spanish heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 16 draw, he could not resist hitting back at the media who had criticized him in recent weeks after it had lost three of four matches.
"We see a "Manchester United" defender (Gary Neville) say in the preparations for the game things like, 'I don't want to be one of the Chelsea players today, I couldn't play this game and it is a difficult game for them'. This is out of this world for me, I don't believe this. This is a continuous persecution, it is aggression towards one club."
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