• Premier League

Villas-Boas 'hopeful' over Lampard stay

ESPN staff
February 27, 2012
Andre Villas-Boas wants Frank Lampard to stay on at Chelsea © Getty Images
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The relationship between Andre Villas-Boas and Frank Lampard may have become strained in the former's first season in charge at Chelsea, but the Portuguese manager has nevertheless stated that he hopes the midfielder will remain at Stamford Bridge beyond the end of the season.

Villas-Boas' introduction to life in the Premier League at Chelsea has not run a smooth course this season, with results and some of his players making life in West London difficult at times.

Lampard admitted for the first time over the weekend that he and Villas-Boas have not seen eye to eye at times, explaining that their relationship had "not been ideal", but despite that the manager is keen to see the 33-year-old stay.

Unable to say for definite whether Lampard would be a Chelsea player past the end of this campaign, Villas-Boas stated: "I hope so. It does not depend on me. It depends on three parts - I want him, the person wants to stay and the club wants him."

Lampard's importance to Chelsea and his popularity amongst the club's fans was in evidence once again in the 3-0 Premier League win over Bolton at the weekend, in which the midfielder scored his 12th goal of the season - his 125th league goal for the club.

Villas-Boas commented: "Frank goes on and on breaking the club's records and that is important for him.

"I congratulate him for that. He is a player who has been involved with all managers before and played in most of the games.

"The only difference this year from the years before is that we have more competition in midfield and things become more difficult for everybody.

"But Frank is now in the top five of players most used so he is up there with the best."

Commenting on how things have gone this season, Villas-Boas added: "We have not been getting the results and pressure increases on team players and management. You have to deal with that and deliver.

"I just want to go into a run of results, win the next game and build something that we have been missing since the beginning of the season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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