Frank Lampard says Chelsea's current league position is 'ridiculous' and laments the lack of 'real personalities' in the Blues' first team. With departures of Didier Drogba, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and himself, Lampard believes Chelsea are trying something new which isn't necessarily working.
Chelsea are currently 11th in the league thanks to their rather poor 2-1 win over Southampton where they conceded the first goal. They are yet to lose in the league under Guus Hiddink this time around but Lampard insists this is not where Chelsea should be and that they should have the kind of players who can instantly lift them off these situations.
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He said, "I do worry about where the real personalities of the team are. To be a big team, you have to have big personalities.
"I don't want to sound like I am harking back to the days of me and John [Terry] and Ashley Cole and Petr Cech and Didier Drogba but I do see a team now where John is the last mainstay of that identity.
"Maybe Chelsea are looking for a more beautiful way now. The club has been trying to push it down that route with the players they have recruited over the last four or five years.
"The problem is if you fall in the middle, somewhere between tough and beautiful. It's nice football at times but it's not that nice and it's not really winning games. It's not beautiful, beautiful stuff.
"They need to buy two or three big players. Because being 11th in the Premier League is ridiculous for Chelsea."
The Englishman made 400 appearances for Chelsea but moved to Manchester City last season after being passed over for a contract extension. With City now having confirmed that they've secured the signature of Pep Guardiola ahead of next season, Lampard believes Manchester City could become a superpower.
"They will be a huge force under Guardiola. I think, yes, Man City can push on in a massive way. He's an innovator," he said.
"There are two geniuses: Jose Mourinho and him. What a great rivalry that will be if Jose goes to Old Trafford."
Not thinking of retirement just yet: Lampard
At 37 and playing in a comparatively timid league, Lampard insists that he isn't thinking about retiring just yet. "I don't know yet whether this will be my last year as a player -- but whether it is or not, I don't want to go out with a whimper," Lampard admitted.
"I could rely on the Chelsea thing and think that was great and take the wrong attitude about what this is. I haven't done that. Anyone who knows me knows that I have a real desire. I am very driven to do as well as I can.
"I know the minute I drop, that kick up the backside comes. I have got no doubt about it that if I drop at 37, it will come. So I am taking this season full on. I have to adapt. I can't train as hard as I used to. But I will give everything.
"I wouldn't enjoy being here on a holiday. I'm not that kind of bloke. I would feel like I was taking the p---. The people here are very good. The teammates around you, the club, the supporters, we were getting nearly 30,000 a week as a new franchise. It's a big deal."
