Frank
Lampard says there are no regrets at Chelsea over the decision to release
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice as a teenager.
Rice was let go from the Blues academy as a 14-year-old and moved to West
Ham, where he has since become a key player and earned international honours
with England.
Rice played in all 38 of West Ham's Premier League games last season on his
way to being named the club's player of the year, and his successes are
welcomed by Lampard, who feels Rice's story is one which should be
celebrated as a measure of his character.
"He's a fantastic player for West Ham and England so fair play, because his
journey there after leaving Chelsea and going to West Ham is a good story to
hear," he said.
"There are lots of stories like that and it shows the player's strength of
character. In terms of from our end, I certainly wouldn't use the word
'regret' - our academy is one of the best in the world and you look at our
first team now with the players that we have produced who are in and around
that squad.
"It's not easy. It's not an exact science to pick players but the academy
staff do brilliantly here. Declan Rice has given himself personal credit for
having the great start to the career that he's had at West Ham."
Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi both trained 'at a decent level' on
Friday and will be monitored by Lampard prior to the match at West Ham on
Monday, which sees the Chelsea boss return to the club with which he began
his career.
Lampard spent the first six years of his professional career as a Hammer
before moving to Stamford Bridge in 2001 but says the personal motivation is
not the same for him as a manager as it was when he was playing.
"It did (mean a lot) when I played," he said. "But as a manager, in my role
now, it doesn't. Maybe I've mellowed or something, or something's changed
but I only focus on what's necessary for the club.
"I don't take it on myself personally, to me it's just another game and this
one is especially important because we go into it on the back of two losses.
We want to get back on track."
top