Frank Lampard insists Pierre-Emerick Aubemayeng must “compete in training” to earn a place in the Chelsea side, before the interim manager opened up on the owners’ “strong intentions” and “clear visison”.
Lampard has overseen two defeats, to Wolves and Real Madrid, since returning to Chelsea as interim manager, and faces a tough test as they welcome high-flying Brighton to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
The Blues legend will be hoping at least one of his players manages to find the back of the net with their goalless run now stretching to four games.
There have inevitably been calls from the fans for Aubameyang to be recalled, but Lampard says the Gabon international must “compete in training” to earn his place.
Lampard said: “The players have to feel when they train and how they prepare, the competitive nature in the squad to get a place in the team needs to be high. You have to compete in training. History says he has a fantastic goalscoring record.”
Lampard was handed the chance to return to Chelsea by the new owners having been sacked by the club just over two years ago in the Roman Abramovich era.
Asked for his impressions of Todd Boehly and the other decision-makers at Chelsea, Lampard said: “I’ve been impressed. I’m not sure if ambitious is the right word but they are. They have a clear vision of where we want to get to, really strong intensions and involvement.
“Collaboration is really important. An understanding that this is a long term project and idea. There may be difficult steps.”
The Chelsea boss also said that while Brighton have set an excellent example of how to run a football club, Chelsea are on a different “path”.
He added: “Brighton is a fantastic model. You can track good progression and that’s their path.
“Chelsea’s is a different, maybe a club where there is different transition of ownership, players that have left, players for the future.
“Models everywhere, the work Arsenal have done and everyone was judging them – owner and manager.
“You have to understand when you’re in a project, there are moments you have to dig. I don’t think it’s important for us to focus on opinion.”
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