Frank Lampard has asked Mason Mount to put his close friendship with Declan Rice aside and focus on “beating him in every battle” when Chelsea visits West Ham on Wednesday night.
Lampard’s career as a player started at West Ham and the Chelsea coach says the abuse he received when he returned with a Chelsea jersey “definitely pushed me,” a motivating effect similar to the one he had when facing particularly familiar players.
“I think it stimulates you more, if you have a personal relationship in any way, whether they are best friends or they don’t really like each other,” Lampard said. “But you can have the best games in those kinds of circumstances or you can focus too much on that relationship and have a not-so-good game.”
“There’s only one thing I’m going to ask Mason … he textes him the night before the game, smiles at him in the tunnel or whatever, but if they confront each other, he tries to hit him.” every single battle you possibly can. And by feeling the character of Declan Rice, they will have like-minded ideas about that. ”
Mount was one of two players eliminated at halftime in Chelsea’s last game at Leicester on Sunday, and Ross Barkley, one of the contracted players, scored the only goal in a fifth consecutive victory. But 21-year-old Mount has started all but four of Chelsea’s 32 league games and, having stood out in recent victories against Aston Villa and Manchester City, his place appears to be assured.
“Against Villa was incredibly buoyant with the ball and gave us a lot of options going forward, then the work ethic and quality he showed against Manchester City were incredible, so he had two great performances in one week,” said Lampard. “It wasn’t a bad performance against Leicester, more in line with the team. I trust Mason a lot; I did it in Derby and Chelsea, and that decision does not affect my thinking for West Ham or to move forward.
West Ham manager David Moyes said he wants to build a team around Rice after Aaron Cresswell suggested his teammate would reach “another level” if he joined a big club.
Chelsea is considering trying to sign Rice, but Moyes sees the England international as a future West Ham captain and believes the 21-year-old has a long way to go before being able to deliver on Cresswell’s predictions.
“If you think of the great players who have been in West Ham for the past 125 years, some awesome players,” said Moyes, “Declan Rice is not quite close to that level yet, so Declan has a lot of improvements to make to achieve that. level but he is a very, very good player.
“I have had the opportunity to see many players at the top level, their qualities. Declan has many, many of them. My idea is to build West Ham around Declan Rice. I see Declan Rice as a future captain. For many reasons, I look forward to working with Declan and unless they tell me something different or things change, he is a very important part of the club for me. ”
West Ham could be without Sébastien Haller again, but Moyes seemed hesitant about asking Albian Ajeti to replace the striker, who lost in Wolves and Tottenham’s 2-0 losses. Ajeti has yet to score since his £ 8m move from Basel last summer and has not appeared since it started when West Ham, which is in the bottom three on goal difference, lost to West Brom in the FA Cup in January.
“I think he had a chance against Newport [in the Carabao Cup]”Moyes said.” I only came in January and didn’t get a chance to see much. I played it in the West Brom game. You and I have probably seen the same amount. Obviously I see more of him in training. But you’ve had as many opportunities to see him as I do in those games. “
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