Jose Mourinho claims that Frank Lampard will struggle to play two games a week because of his all-action style of football.
The 35-year-old midfielder was the star of the show last weekend when he scored a brace at Upton Park but looked completely drained during the 1-0 defeat to FC Basel just days later, so could be rested for today’s match against Southampton.
Mourinho explained why he believes Lampard is struggling when the games come thick and fast:
“The way he plays it’s normal. The way he played all his life.
“We’ve got some players they play a lot of matches but they play a certain way.
“Lampard’s is not a certain way. It’s his way and his way was always the 200 per cent way. It’s normal.
“We have to control him. We have to support him and understand the best way to get it out of him.”
It seems as though Mourinho has been in a reflective mood this week as many things he’s been talking about reflect what’s been said by fans, pundits and writers so far this season.
Aside from the Juan Mata stuff and Mourinho admits it ‘hurts’ to leave him out as he promises chances for the Spaniard this month, many have discussed just how to get the best out of Lampard during the twilight years of his career and if he’s playing too much football at this juncture.
In my opinion he should be used a lot more sparingly than he has been. The midfielder started the season well in the opener when we hosted Hull City at home, made a delightful assist for Demba Ba during a cameo versus Schalke and rolled back the years when he destroyed his former side West Ham last week, but hasn’t particularly played well the rest of the time and I believe there are two reasons for this…
Firstly, and perhaps most obviously as Mourinho already alluded to it above, Lampard has played too many games and hasn’t been fresh enough to make the sort of impact you would expect him too because he hasn’t been fresh enough to do so.
Secondly, he’s often been played out-of-position in a deeper role which a) doesn’t suit him and b) he isn’t good at playing it. Lampard is much more adept when playing more advanced and absolved of defensive responsibility. Of course you couldn’t build a team around him like that for every game but you could do when the situation commands it whilst he could be useful as an impact sub when you need a goal.
