Jose Mourinho says he`s `right` for stalwart Frank Lampard
Last Updated: Sunday, November 24, 2013, 14:55
At 35, Lampard is the elder statesman of Mourinho`s Chelsea team but emphasised his worth with two goals in a comprehensive 3-0 win at West Ham - his former club - as the Blues moved up into third place in the Premier League table on Saturday.
Lampard had found himself marginalised when Andre Villas-Boas was in charge at Stamford Bridge but Mourinho has made no attempt to phase out a player who was pivotal to success in the `Special One`s` first spell in charge at Chelsea, which saw them win the Premier League title twice before his abrupt departure in 2007.
"He`s in a moment where he has nothing to prove, to you to the fans, to me, to himself," Mourinho said of Lampard.
"He has just to enjoy the last years of his career, try to play the maximum he can, try to score because scoring was always something that was part of his DNA as a player, and enjoy life," the Portuguese added.
"That`s what he has to do. I think I come to him in the right moment for him. I was his manager in the best period of his career and now I come back with him to enjoy the last period of his career."
Mourinho, who saw Brazil play-maker Oscar score his side`s second goal at Upton Park, was convinced Lampard would decide himself when it was time to quit the top-flight in England, possibly for a swan song in the United States.
"It depends on them," he said of the game`s elite performers. "Sometimes they stop when they want, when nobody is waiting for it. A few weeks ago Deco called me to tell me he`s going to stop.
"Sometimes they cannot say one more year, two more years, three more years. They have to enjoy and when they feel they don`t enjoy so much, they decide it`s time to stop."
Lampard certainly enjoyed his Upton Park return as he had not scored in his previous 10 Premier League outings, his longest barren run in the league for a decade.
It was an entirely different story for another of Mourinho`s former pupils as Joe Cole, who had a trophy-laden spell at Chelsea in between two stints at West Ham and a short stay at Liverpool, was substituted before half-time by home manager Sam Allardyce.
Cole was replaced in the 40th minute, as was fellow West Ham midfielder Jack Collison.
Cole reacted angrily by taking off his shirt and discarding it as he went straight down the tunnel.
Allardyce recognised the player`s frustration but made it clear he would do it again if he felt it was the correct decision, with captain Kevin Nolan also finding himself replaced later on.
"If he`s frustrated that`s fine because next time he gets a chance he`s going to play so well the last thing I can do is substitute him," Hammers boss Allardyce said.
"That`s up to him, the next time he gets a chance.
"If he doesn`t play quite as well or I think I need to make a change and Joe Cole is the one to bring off then I`ll bring him off.
"I brought my captain off in the end because I didn`t think he drove the team on as much as he normally does." AFP ---------------- ZEENEWS.com
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