Frank Lampard thinks Chelsea need to “stick” to a process like Premier League rivals Brighton, Brentford, Newcastle United and Manchester City.
Some other Premier League sides are currently envious of those four clubs with the quartet among those adhering to a clear plan over the few seasons.
Brentford have secured a top-half finish with many tipping them to go down this season, while Brighton and Newcastle have qualified for European football and Man City have won the Premier League.
Chelsea appointed Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart as co-sporting directors earlier this year with the Blues transfer plans over the last couple of windows seeming a bit disjointed.
On his dialogue with the duo, Lampard told reporters: “It’s been really good. I’ve been able to get on well with them on a personal and professional level. When you don’t have it, you miss it.
“I appreciate that, it’s a big job to get Chelsea bac, the responsibility isn’t all theirs.I wish them well with how they operate going forward.”
On whether it’s good to have a solid structure above the head coach, Lampard replied: “Yeah, I think so. We talk a lot about the Brighton and Brentford, Newcastle Man City and there’s an alignment of thinking. There’s a lot of work in that and we have good people in there to do that. It’s important to be connected.
“This could be a longer picture to get a process. People have to stick with that along the way.”
Man Utd have been linked with a £55m move for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount on Wednesday but Lampard was coy over any news on the England international’s potential new contract at Stamford Bridge.
When put to him that it feels like Mount has played his last game for Chelsea, Lampard said: “It’s not my answer to make, it’s between Mason and the club.”
On whether Chelsea and Liverpool will wake up next season, Lampard added: “I don’t know that because the Premier League moves on very fast. You see the emergence of Newcastle, Brighton, Aston Villa. If you switch it off, it’s not easy to switch it back on.
“I think that will be the test.”
On how they will approach the match against Manchester United, Lampard continued: “Similar approach to Manchester City, albeit they won the league the night before. We’ll have to go there with a good mentality.”
When asked what he wants to see tomorrow, Lampard replied: “The usual requirements and the basics. They’re not easy to switch on. We’ve not met the standard regularly enough, I’ve seen some reasons why. The players need to reach the standard, I think we did against Manchester City.”
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