Lampard on Mount and Kante’s fitness, admiring Klopp and more
Frank Lampard spoke about a number of issues at a news conference ahead of this weekend’s match against Liverpool. Here’s some of what the Blues boss had to say.
On whether Mason Mount will be fit
“He’s got a chance. We all saw the image of the tackle and it made it look really bad, but hopefully it’s not so bad.
“We’re trying to get him moving today and it’s one I’m going to have to call just before the game with another 24 hours in the bank.
“We’re trying and the good thing with Mason is his attitude. He’ll give everything to go out there and play for this club, particularly in a game of this size. We’ll try to get him there.
“There’s a lot of swelling and it didn’t look the best. But I think with some injuries with the ankle – from my experience as well – if there’s proper damage there’s not much you can do but sometimes if they’re swollen and you strap it up – old school – and get out there, it can be done.
“We won’t take any risks with him. There’s a bigger picture. But we’ll do our best.”
On N’Golo Kante being back in training
“It’s a boost with N’Golo. We all know the importance of him for the team and the attributes he brings.
“The question for me is how fit he is, because he’s had a long time out now since the back end of last season. I know he played a couple of games this year but he missed pre-season and what he did in Istanbul was miraculous – to play how he did without training.
“So now we just have to manage him. Similar to what I said with Mason – there’s a bigger picture but it’s great to have him back.
“If he can bring us positives on the pitch because his fitness is good enough now the injury is healing – he still feels it occasionally – then I’ll take that into consideration.”
On Callum Hudson-Odoi’s new contract
“I spoke to Callum in pre-season when we were away in Dublin – and pretty much as soon as I got the job I made contact with him to make him aware that I wanted him to be part of the plans.
“He’s a young lad who has come through the academy here. The club’s worked hard with him and he’s worked hard to get in the first team.
“For me it just felt like it (Hudson-Odoi staying) was what everybody wanted.
“Then it was away from me slightly in terms of the club dealing with the contract itself. But I wanted to make it clear that I want him at the club because I believe in his talent.
“I also know that now that the five-year contract is signed is when the hard work really starts for him.
“He’s got everything. We know the talent he has. But I feel there’s a lot more and it’s pure hard work that will get him there.
“Now it’s signed and sealed he can get to work.”
On Twitter saying they will clamp down on trolls
“The only progression is action. When you look at social media platforms, the ball’s in their court.
“People shouldn’t be allowed to hide behind another name and persona and say anything about anyone at the levels we’ve been seeing recently.
“Lots of things are said about people in the spotlight day in and day out. I can’t stand it and it’s not right. Let’s see what the action is from their end.”
On having faced Liverpool in the Super Cup
“For us it showed us that we can compete with what is, on form, the best team in the country.
“I know it was earlier in the season and there are different things to take into account from that, but I thought we more than held ourselves in a good manner and could have won the game – should have won if we’d have taken our chances.
“But every game is a new thing. We have to be at our best, which we’ve shown in phases this season and at other times we haven’t.
“Against Liverpool the one thing to be sure of is that if you aren’t at your best for 90 minutes or if there are tough moments and you can’t dig in then they are a team that will punish you.”
On Reds boss Jurgen Klopp
“I respect him hugely. It was a nice thing for me going up against him in the Super Cup because I’ve got huge respect for him.
“I love the way he’s come into that club, his charisma, but not just that – professionally how he went in there and has his way and doesn’t mess about.
“He’s got the success he deserves for how he works.”
On Tammy Abraham potentially taking on Virgin van Dijk and Fiyako Tomori facing Liverpool’s attack
“Van Dijk, clearly the performances this year have thrown him up for all the awards individually and it’s quite right because he’s an incredible player seemingly with all the attributes to be an incredible defender and more. So it’s a test for our centre-forward.
“Tomori has shown real quality and a calmness about how he has arrived in the first team in the Premier League.
“If you give them [Liverpool’s attacking players] one second, or half a second, they are gone and can hurt you and that is something all our defenders have to be aware of.”
On how he’s finding being Chelsea manager
“It’s hard work but I always expected that. I had hard work at Derby last year and coming to Chelsea, it’s a club that I obviously love and I feel at home but it hasn’t taken away the fact that I want to give everything to try and be a success here.
“It’s great to be around familiar faces but it’s been tough because I want success and I think it only comes with one way and I’m working towards that.
“I’ve seen great signs of improvement – the Wolves game last week was something special for me to see a really good team performance and the young lads from the academy getting rightly praised for the way they performed.
“I’m working towards something. I can’t say I’m kicking back and enjoying it yet, albeit I’m very happy to be here.”
