Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas praises versatile Frank Lampard after win over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kitchee-c39721
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Essien-c25294.
The 28-year-old Ghanaian midfielder sustained a knee injury early on during pre-season training, which has him sidelined for about six months. His long-term absence left a hole in Chelsea’s midfield which Villas-Boas was considering filling with a new signing. However, the Portuguese manager seems to have found his man in the current squad.
It is none other than http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186 boss was full of praise for the 33-year-old midfielder, he said in an interview after the match:
“Frank has the ability to play in that role and it is good that he feels so well in that position and gives us that flexibility.”
According to Villas-Boas, Lampard was one of those few players who possessed the ability to play in various roles. While he has not been deployed as a holding midfielder in the past by previous managers, Lampard was a natural in his new role. This has strengthened Villas-Boas’ belief about experimenting with players and their positions in order to get the best out of them.
The Portuguese manager continued:
“Frank is one of the best players in the world and he has the flexibility to play in many positions: in a number eight position, a number 10 position or a holding position.”
We have seen throughout his career that he has the ability so it is nothing new that we were trying today, and it does not mean that we are going to use it to the fullness.”
However, Villas-Boas insisted this in no way meant that he would always play Frank Lampard as a defensive midfielder. He said he was aware that the English midfielder’s best strength lay in attack, having proved so in the previous seasons with his average of 20+ goals. His best goal tally was recorded in the 2009-2010 season, when Lampard scored 27 goals to help his side to the domestic double.
Chelsea’s victory over Kitchee puts them in the final of the Barclays Asia Trophy, where they will face English Premier League side Aston Villa, who defeated Blackburn http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Rovers-c40385 1-0 to reach this far in the competition. This will be the Blues’ opportunity to win their first trophy under new boss Villas-Boas, which will undoubtedly give them much needed confidence ahead of the new campaign.
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