MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 10:45:02| >> :120:6045:6045:

Frank Lampard reminds Chelsea players of their "responsibilities"

Chelsea's England duo Tammy Abraham and Ben Chilwell broke Covid-19 restrictions at the former's birthday party in October.

Frank Lampard will warn his Chelsea players to live up to their "responsibilities as role models" and avoid any social-distancing breaches this Christmas.

Blues boss Lampard has admitted he will remind his Chelsea squad to take care to stick to Government guidelines on Covid-19 management as the Premier League season reaches its traditional festive fixture frenzy.

Chelsea's England duo Tammy Abraham and Ben Chilwell broke coronavirus restrictions at the former's birthday party in October, with both then missing international action and apologising.

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League – Stamford Bridge
Tammy Abraham, pictured, fell foul of Covid-19 restrictions at a surprise birthday party in October (Justin Tallis/PA)

While Lampard said rowdy Christmas parties are a thing of the past in the Premier League, he did admit he would talk to his players about their conduct.

"I will have those conversations, I will reiterate to them their responsibilities," said Lampard.

"The Christmas party thing of yesteryear has pretty much mellowed now anyway.

"Players are so well followed in terms of social media etc, that the parties I might have been involved in back in the day don't happen in the modern day!

"On a serious note we have new signings this year, and a fresh squad in a way.

"And we have missed the opportunity to go out more often and have dinner together.

Chelsea v Rennes – UEFA Champions League – Group E – Stamford Bridge
Ben Chilwell put his hand up to his mistake in breaching coronavirus protocols (Neil Hall/PA)

"It's tough in terms of Covid, but it is the same for everybody, and the players have responsibilities as role models to people outside and to do the right things for their careers.

"Particularly when they are playing so frequently over Christmas they have to live differently to the rest of the public potentially, and focus, and that's hopefully a constant reminder."

Lampard meanwhile has admitted that trying to maximise Christian Pulisic's impact at Chelsea remains a "work in progress".

Pulisic will be fit for Saturday's Premier League trip to Everton, having shaken off his latest hamstring twinge earlier this week.

The United States forward has avoided any injury in a clear relief to both player and manager at Stamford Bridge.

But Pulisic has suffered a clutch of hamstring issues, and Blues boss Lampard admitted he, the player and the club are still working hard to find the right balance of work and rest to help the 22-year-old thrive in west London.

"Christian Pulisic had a tiny bit of awareness off the back of the Leeds game on one of his hamstrings, but he's training normally," said Lampard.

"Christian is a work in progress. I don't want to call this an injury he had in midweek. If the game had been a different type of game then maybe I would have used him.

"We know his abilities, that's very clear, he showed them when he came on against Leeds last week.

"I just have to find the right way to get the best out of him regularly and consistently."

ID:425983: cacheID:425983:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7673:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dominic Calvert-Lewin carries the match ball after scoring a hat-trick against West Ham United in the EFL Cup on September 30, 2020
Read Next:
Ancelotti: 'Calvert-Lewin will be rested in December'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!