DBasia.news – Chelsea manager Frank Lampard did not want to over-praise his young players after the landslide victory of their team with a score of 5-2 against Wolverhampton Wanderers some time ago.
The amount of spotlight on young Chelsea players at that time was very reasonable. The reason they look brilliant. In fact, all goals were born from the actions of Chelsea academy product players, three Tammy Abraham goals and two more coming from Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount.
After the match, Lampard seemed to refrain from giving praise to his young players. The manager instead focuses more on a player whom he considers a pillar.
“Willian was outstanding today. His hard work on the pitch was extraordinary. The quality and speed,” Lampard said.
“He is our best player since I became the manager.”
Lapse of six weeks later, after Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic began to shine, Lampard’s opinion about Willian did not change. In the young squad, Lampard needs a senior figure who is a pillar. The figure is in Willian.
Lampard is not just choosing Willian. The manager has known the 31-year-old player. His experience playing 28 times in one team makes Lampard recognize the character and abilities of Willian.
The player who once played for Shakhtar Donetsk is now Lampard’s first choice, beating Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi, and Pedro. Willian also paid Lampard’s trust by contributing two goals and three assists in his last nine matches.
When Chelsea was held by Maurizio Sarri, Willian was not the first choice. Even so, he can still pack 13 assists in all competitions last season, only Eden Hazard has a better record with 17 assists.
Chelsea may be happy to see the progress of young players, but in the eyes of Lampard, the main pillar of his team is Willian.