According to the latest reports Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has admitted that he is extremely pleased with Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic but also highlighted where he can get better and improve in the near future. Lampard has done quite a fabulous job since taking over the reins of the Chelsea football club as a manager from Maurizio Sarri. The Blues lost their Belgian star winger Eden Hazard to Real Madrid as the 28-year-old wanted a move to Santiago Bernabeu but to add to that Chelsea also incurred a transfer ban which meant that the club was ineligible to sign any players for the next two transfer windows.
The 41-year-old Lampard had only one season in management with Derby County in the Championship and almost guided the Rams to Premier League promotion before taking over the job at Chelsea. On his return to Stamford Bridge, Lampard had a difficult start to the season as Chelsea were hammered 4-0 on the opening day of the Premier League season against Manchester United and the West London side also suffered a loss to Liverpool in the UEFA Super Cup.
Chelsea has picked up the pace off late and currently sit in third place on the Premier League table with the chance of making it into the next round of the Champions League as well. Lampard wasn’t able to sign any players in the summer but kept hold of Mateo Kovacic after he spent last season on loan from Real Madrid.
The 25-year-old had a mixed season at Stamford Bridge in his debut term with the club and came under some criticism as well but this season Kovacic has excelled tremendously showing great understanding and partnership alongside Jorginho with N’golo Kante being out injured for most of the campaign.
Lampard has stated that due to Kovacic having a steady run of games, it has boosted the midfielder’s confidence and he feels more at home. While speaking to reporters, Lampard waxed lyrical about the World Cup finalist, “I think it is commonplace for players coming from a foreign league to the Premier League to have a period of settling in And I think with Kovacic I thought there were some really good signs and positives from him last year. The fact he was changing in and out of the team is never easy, I get that. Now as a manager, I get that even more. I do think he feels at home now. Not that I knew how he was last year but his personality shines through in the group.”
“He is a very likeable character with a nice tough side to him, in terms of how I see him on the pitch and off the pitch. He is a really good player. He’s now signed to the club, I get that that can make someone feel happy, and he’s been playing really well.”
Lampard also went on to conclude by saying that Kovacic must score more goals and that is one area that he should improve on his game, “Yes. I do [want him to score more] and he does, the quality he has shown in big parts this season, and I think the natural progression is goals and we are working on that one.”
