Fikayo
Tomori has told The Football Show how Frank Lampard has hit the ground
running at Stamford Bridge, despite a transfer ban and the challenge of
blooding a number of unproven young players.
Though key player Eden Hazard left for Real Madrid last summer, a run to the
FA Cup quarter-finals and fourth spot in the Premier League - before
domestic football was halted in March - has proved a strong return for the
relatively inexperienced Lampard in his first season in charge at Stamford
Bridge.
Tomori spent last term on loan under Lampard at Derby but after completing a
full pre-season with the Blues for the first time, has become one of the
club's now trusted young crop of first-team players.
"Coming into this season, the young players felt we had an opportunity and
the manager said he wanted to play youngsters," Tomori told Sky Sports'
Jamie Redknapp. "Tammy (Abraham) and Mason (Mount) were scoring goals, I
managed to get into the team, Reece (James) came back and started doing well
after his injury.
"But being able to bounce off each other makes it a much more comfortable
environment for us and we can relax and play our game. Then the experienced
players like Antonio (Rudiger) and Azpi (Cesar Azpilicueta), the ones who
have been there and done it, sharing a changing room with Pedro who has won
everything, it makes it easier to adapt and get to learn from these
players."
Blooding one young player into a starting line-up can prove a challenge but
with Lampard giving regular game-time to Tomori, Abraham, Mount and James,
and more recently Billy Gilmour, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic,
the new kids on the block have had to adapt quickly to Premier League life
for Chelsea to challenge for a Champions League spot.
Lampard's experience and trophy haul as a player, if not as a manager just
yet, plays a big part in that development in the mind of Tomori.
"Coming into [this season] I was trying to be relaxed about it all - but
you've got your friends and family saying you're playing for Chelsea, you're
playing in the Champions League and stuff," he said.
"Sometimes that gets in your head, and you just think this is actually
happening, it's a dream. I try to stay focused and we've got the manager
who's played at World Cups and Champions League finals, he keeps us all calm
and especially with the young players who are new to this stuff, there's a
lot of arm around our shoulders. The season's been great and hopefully we
can finish it off."
'Firmino, Salah so tough to play against'
Tomori admits the step up from Championship to Premier League has been
noticeable - and says Liverpool's forwards have posed him the greatest
challenge so far.
"It has been different for me this season, just because it is the Premier
League and it is a step up. You have to be more focused and prepared, always
alert.
"In the Championship you have a lot of different strikers - some love it in
the air or like to go in behind. But then I'm playing against [Roberto]
Firmino and he's dropping deep into midfield. Things happen a lot faster and
mistakes are punished more harshly.
"Firmino was probably the most difficult [to play against] - along with
Salah. Every time they got the ball, I was thinking, 'This is a challenge
but this is where I want to be - this is a chance to prove that I can play
at this level'.
Tomori's unusual lockdown pastime
With the nationwide lockdown into its second month, Tomori has taken a
different approach to help pass the time until football returns - by
completing a business management degree.
"When this all came about, I actually had three or four assignments left, so
I just thought here's a chance to focus and get it done, give myself a bit
of breathing space," he explained. "Now I'm a bit more bored, I haven't got
that to focus on, but it's something I thought would help me focus with my
mind, on and off the pitch. It keeps me out of trouble.
"I've never really been that kind of gamer, I guess you could say, I like to
think I'm pretty intelligent and I'm that kind of person. I like to engage
my brain and keep it ticking, keep myself focused and give myself something
to do away from football."
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