Villas-Boas plays down Lampard omission
December 07, 2011 11:10:28 UK
Frank Lampard still has a place in the Chelsea team.Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas insists England international Frank Lampard remains in his plans, despite leaving him on the bench for the Champions League win over Valencia on Tuesday.
Lampard was an unused substitute in Chelsea's 3-0 win over the Spanish outfit that secure the Blues' passage to the last 16. Chelsea are 3.00 to secure Champions League glory after managing to progress past the group stages.
Villas-Boas instead opted for a three-man midfield of Raul Meireles, Ramires and Oriol Romeu but the Chelsea boss insists veteran midfield star Lampard still has a future at Stamford Bridge.
"Frank has been fantastic. We have to select 11 and he wasn't in this 11," said Villas-Boas.
"Important players have been left out at Chelsea, players of immense talent."
Chelsea take on Manchester City on Monday and Villas-Boas hinted Lampard could have a role to play against the Premier League leaders, with the Blues priced at 2.25 to become the first side to beat City in the league this season.
He added: "He is one of the greatest players in the world but this choice was three players in midfield because of their technical ability to keep possession and keep it on the ground without a lot of long balls.
"We know that Frank can also do this but he was not our choice for this game.
"He will come back in the future certainly. He has been fantastic in the way he has taken these tough decisions."
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