• Premier League

Villas-Boas gives backing to Lampard and Torres

ESPNsoccernet staff
September 8, 2011
Andre Villas-Boas thinks Frank Lampard is still a quality player © PA Photos
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Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has vowed to help Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres get back to their best after each had an international break to forget.

Lampard was dropped for a competitive England match for the first time in four years when he was left out of the starting XI for Friday night's European Championship qualifier in Bulgaria.

And Torres' career arguably hit a new low two days ago when he did not even make the bench for Spain's thrashing of Liechtenstein.

Lampard was recalled by Capello for Tuesday's Wembley win over Wales, although his performance did little to suggest his best days were not behind him.

The 33-year-old insisted afterwards he would continue to fight for his place and Villas-Boas is confident Lampard has plenty more to give at international level.

Villas-Boas said: "This is one of the top players in England and in the Premier League, I saw through Frank's interview that he made himself available and he wants to keep performing club-wise to be performing for the national team.

"He has this kind of challenge to himself and I think all the top players have it, and I think he's up there with the best.''

Torres' miserable 2011 continued during the international break, the £50 million man having now scored just once in 27 games for club and country.

Villas-Boas said: "Fernando is here to be successful domestically and internationally. One of our main focuses, I think, is getting the best out of the players. We try to free them to exploit their talent and we hope to do it with all of them.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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