Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas criticised "negative" coverage of Frank Lampard's role at the club as they prepare to face Valencia.
The 33-year-old midfielder lost his place in the England side earlier this month. Recently, he has been rested by Villas-Boas, either as part of a squad-rotation policy or in order to preserve him for the bigger games.
In a pre-match news conference, Villas-Boas branded most questions about Lampard as "negative", adding: "I think I've answered that question enough."
Asked what he particularly took issue with, the Portuguese added: "The fact that these players are 'changing' and that they are 'out' and then they are 'in' and, 'What is the problem with this player?' and, 'How is he going to react to a different situation?'
"I don't see things like that. We all see things in the dressing room as team objectives and collective objectives, nothing else."
Villas-Boas insisted there was "nothing dramatic" in his refusal to confirm whether Lampard would be recalled at the Mestalla for the Champions League clash.
He added: "I just go on managing my team and the biggest challenge of the manager is having everybody motivated.
"Everybody wants to play, so everybody competes for a place. There's no mystique in this situation. It's the day-by-day life of management."
Meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge is expected to be fit and Ramires is back after suspension.
Romelu Lukaku is ineligible and Alex, Paulo Ferreira and Josh McEachran did not travel to Spain.
Provisional squad: Cech, Ivanovic, Bosingwa, Terry, Luiz, Cole, Bertrand, Mikel, Romeu, Ramires, Lampard, Meireles, Mata, Malouda, Torres, Drogba, Anelka, Sturridge, Kalou, Turnbull.
Facebook
0 comments:
Post a Comment