http://www.chelseafc.com/article.asp?id=184168
'Complete' Lampard comes in for praise
Monday, Feb 02, 2004
Claudio Ranieri no doubt enjoyed Glen Johnson’s winner at Blackburn
as much the next Chelsea man but it was his near-hat-trick hero Frank
Lampard who drew the head coach’s admiration after the game.
In response to being asked whether Lampard is currently the best
midfielder in the country, Ranieri replied: “I think so! I was pleased
with his performance.
“In this league he is amazing, he is a strong midfielder, quality,
long pass, good vision, strong in the tackle. He has scored ten goals,
unbelievable! Very, very good!”
The Chelsea boss stopped short of adding ‘jumpers for goalposts’ to
his list but he responded enthusiastically when quizzed whether his
in-form driving force had played himself into England contention.
“I am not Eriksson but I think he deserves to play because he is
complete. He can do everything,” he enthused.
On another one of his midfielders, debutant Scott Parker, Ranieri’s
assessment was also positive.
“For him it was a good debut. For him I change his position three
times so he now knows me very well!” he joked.
“I change the formation a little because Manu Petit is not 100 per
cent fit and I put him at the back of the diamond in the Makelele role,”
came the explanation. “Then I change because I thought it was better to
put Makelele in this role and I put Scott on the right and Manu on the
left.
“But it wasn’t too good because Neill had the chance to push forward
and put in dangerous balls for us and then I change again at the beginning
of the second-half.”
While the win kept Chelsea just four points below second placed
Manchester United, Blackburn are now hovering only three points above the
drop zone so understandably, Blackburn manager Graeme Souness was less
willing to praise any of his charges.
“If I was to pick one reason above all others why we are in the
position we are, it is because we don’t have the type of player who at
any cost is prepared to keep that ball out of the net,” he complained.
“That’s putting yourself in front of the ball where you might get
hurt. That’s why we concede so many goals.
“I think we gave 100 per cent effort playing against a good team and
the third goal was a great strike from the edge of the box on the half-
volley - a candidate for goal of the month. But with the challenge on
Terry’s header on the edge of the box, I feel we could have done better.”
Paul Mason
--
╔═══╗ ╔╗ ╔╗ ╔═══╗ ╔╗ ╔═══╗ ╔═══╗ ╔═══╗
║╔═╗║ ║║ ║║ ║╔══╝ ║║ ║╔══╝ ║╔══╝ ║╔═╗║
║║ ╚╝ ║╚═╝║ ║╚══╗ ║║ ║╚══╗ ║╚══╗ ║╚═╝║
║║ ╔╗ ║╔═╗║ ║╔══╝ ║║ ╚══╗║ ║╔══╝ ║╔═╗║
║╚═╝║ ║║ ║║ ║╚══╗ ║╚══╗ ╔══╝║ ║╚══╗ ║║ ║║
╚═══╝ ╚╝ ╚╝ ╚═══╝ ╚═══╝ ╚═══╝ ╚═══╝ ╚╝ ╚╝
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc)
◆ From: 218.164.25.65