Lampard reluctant to discuss Jorginho and Havertz
Frank Lampard appears to have hinted that Jorginho’s future at Chelsea hinges on whether the club secure Champions League football for next season.
The Blues are fourth and will be certain of a top-four finish if they win all four of their remaining Premier League matches.
If they fail to do so, the financial implications of a second consecutive season without Champions League football are likely to mean the club will operate with a smaller squad.
Asked about Jorginho’s future at a news conference on Friday, boss Lampard said the issue was “irrelevant” while there are still matches to play this season.
“These final few games will define how we sit and look at this season and look forward to next season,” Lampard added.
‘The usual Jorginho’
Jorginho has not started a game for Chelsea since football resumed, with Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Billy Gilmour and Mason Mount all being preferred.
But with Kante and Gilmour both injured and Kovavic having just recovered from an Achilles problem, Jorginho – who impressed as a late substitute in the 3-2 win over Crystal Palace – could return for the away game against Sheffield United on Saturday.
“I don’t think there’s a point to prove for Jorginho,” Lampard said.
“He proves it in training and when he plays. I just want to see the usual Jorginho.
“I am very pleased with his attitude. It is what I expect of players.
“There’s no way you go through seasons without moments where you are possibly out of the team and that are difficult individually.
“You have to have a toughness individually and collectively, hence why I made the move to make him vice-captain when I came in because I saw that in his personality.
“He did very well when he came on. At that moment it was exactly what I wanted from him.
“I wanted him to take control, to drive it with his voice and with his quality of pass, which he has done for a huge part of this season for us as well.”
Havertz speculation continues
Meanwhile, Lampard was coy about the chances of Chelsea signing Kai Havertz.
The Germany winger continues to be linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
German media reports say he wants to leave Bayer Leverkusen and is interested in joining the Blues.
Lampard said: “It’s not something I want to broach at this time.
“I don’t want to give ifs, buts and maybes on any potential signing for the summer. The focus must be on the here and now.”
Abraham ‘needs to focus on playing’
Lampard was also reluctant to discuss Tammy Abraham’s future.
But he said talk about whether the striker, who has scored 16 goals this season, will sign an extended contract is not a concern while he still has three years to run on his current deal.
“He is not at a critical stage of his contract,” Lampard explained.
“He needs to focus on playing. We need to focus on finishing the season as well as we can and there will be plenty of time to sit down after that.”
Abraham scored his latest goal in the win over Palace, having not found the net in 10 his previous appearances, and Lampard said he hoped that would give the 22-year-old a boost.
“Tammy is a very positive lad. He trains well and is good around the group and that hasn’t changed,” Lampard said.
“But I know beyond that, there are sometimes feelings for a player, particularly for a goalscorer, if they are having a tough time in front of goal.
“We had a conversation before the Palace game so I was particularly delighted to see him break that against them.
“I hope there is an uplift, mentally, for him and that his confidence takes a boost. We will see.
“This being his Premier League breakthrough season at a club like Chelsea, it is a burden on the number nine shirt and being one of the main strikers is new to him this year but he has taken it on board really well.
“He will have learned a lot from the really good patch and the difficult patch
“The rest of the story is up to him how. It’s about how hard he works and how he takes himself forward now. That’s a good position for him to be in.”
