Every single player has to prove their worth to me, reveals Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard has admitted that price-tags mean little to him and instead, every player has to prove to him that they are worthy of a place in the starting lineup. The Blues legend has done relatively well so far as Chelsea boss but his decision to not pick Christian Pulisic has been questioned.
The USA star was a ÂŁ58 million signing in January but was sent back on loan to Borussia Dortmund before officially arriving as a Chelsea player this summer. Yet since then, Christian Pulisic has failed to make a lasting impact on the team which has seen the American make just six appearances in all competitions and that includes four in the Premier League. But the 21-year-old has not played the last three games in the league and has yet to play a single minute of Champions League football.
That has seen a few critics question Lampard’s team selection but with Chelsea's youth products playing well Pulisic’s absence has yet to be felt. However, Lampard has urged the American and other Chelsea youngsters to prove that they’re more than their price-tag or market value. The Blues’ legend even went on to add that performances trump reputation, and that every single player has to prove to him that they are worthy of a place in the team.
“One of my problems in this job is that I have good players and Âeveryone has their story – Christian has a price-tag, Ross Barkley is an international player, so too is Mason Mount. Callum Hudson-Odoi has just signed a new Âcontract, Bayern ÂMunich wanted to buy him, he is an international player, Ruben Loftus-Cheek will come back and be an international player... and I can’t pick them all in the game, Âunfortunately,” said Lampard reports the Mirror.
“All I have to demand of them is that they show me in training or show me in the game, when they get the chances to play, that they are worthy of their place. I spoke to Christian two days before the Grimsby game and was very clear about the standards. And we have to give him the fact he has moved country, leagues and is as young as all the young Âplayers we are talking about,” concluded the Premier League winner.