蘭帕德：凱帕年輕且努力，我必須保護他 - 切爾西足球俱樂部 Chelsea Football Club

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/09/29/
--the-criticism-is-intense-and-it-affects-players----lampard-on-

'The criticism is intense and it affects players' - Lampard on the unique
scrutiny of football

29 Sep 2020


Ahead of our trip to Tottenham this evening, Frank Lampard has been
discussing the unique pressures of being in the spotlight and how he sees
his role in supporting his players through those difficult moments of
scrutiny…


https://i.imgur.com/swokXxw.jpg


Criticism is nothing new in sport but there is perhaps no brighter
spotlight and no lonelier place to be than a footballer under fire. Every
single of minute of Premier League football is now televised live in this
behind-closed-doors limbo and the analysis is instantaneous, incessant and
often incendiary.


Frank Lampard was no stranger to scrutiny himself as a player,
particularly as the nephew of then-West Ham manager Harry Redknapp during
his rise through the ranks in east London and then again on every
subsequent visit back to that corner of the capital.


However, the boss believes the intensity of criticism in the game now has
ratcheted up several levels since his playing days, with the advent of
social media and its direct visibility to players particularly harmful.


Back in the day, managers had been known to throw away the Monday
newspapers before players reported to the training ground; now, the full
spectrum of hyper-analysis is available at the swipe of a smartphone
screen before the dressing room showers have even been turned on.


'When I compare it to my days as a player, the criticism levels have
definitely ramped up and that's mainly because of social media and the
fact it's so prevalent and so cutting,' explains Lampard.


'It's very easy to be critical when you're hidden behind a phone or
keyboard and unfortunately that's very visible to the players as well.
It's a shame that people react so quickly to one performance or one
moment.


https://i.imgur.com/RnE9E8k.jpg


'You have to remember that these players are all young men, they're humans
and they can be affected by that which is why I want to protect them and
be a source of support and strength for any player that has those moments.
That's a really important part of my role because confidence in football
is such a key factor.'


The confidence of Kepa Arrizabalaga has been a frequent talking point in
recent months and Lampard has felt compelled to take the Spaniard out of
the firing line on occasions given how intense the criticism has been. The
boss highlights the goalkeeping position as being one that is particularly
difficult to navigate when self-belief is low but he insists Kepa is being
given all the support possible.


'With Kepa, I have felt in the last week or so that the criticism and
scrutiny from the outside and how intense it has been has gone beyond
where it should be,' he continued. 'That's the modern world we live in so
you can't complain too much but I certainly have to protect the players
from that.


'He's a young lad working every day to do the right things, to be fit and
ready. Sometimes in football, things like form and moments go against you
and for a goalkeeper it's much worse than any other position on the pitch.
If there is criticism and coldness from outside, that certainly isn't what
it is here. We want the best for him and my job is to support.'


For this evening's Carabao Cup clash at Tottenham, Lampard will have to
decide between Kepa, Willy Caballero or new signing Edouard Mendy to start
between the posts. Despite last season's trend of Caballero starting in
the domestic cup competitions as the number two, our head coach feels the
current situation is more fluid.


'Last season, Willy was playing in the cups and then he got in the team in
the league so Kepa played games in the FA Cup so it sort of flipped,' he
added. 'There's never an absolute promise and I'll make a decision as I
see it for Tottenham.'


Following the possibility of a loan departure for Ruben Loftus-Cheek being
mooted, Lampard also suggested other outgoings could be imminent before
the summer transfer window closes next Monday.


'If it's right for a player and right for us then that can be possible,'
he said at the prospect of more exits. 'At the moment the squad is very
big but it would have to be the right situation for us.


'It's also a slightly uncertain time in terms of what's going on at the
moment - we're always in the worry of quarantines and isolations, which we
had a lot through pre-season. We have to prioritise the squad we've got
and make sure we're comfortable with that but there is a possibility that
a few players could be moving on if it's right.'

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