https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/01/19/
lampard-on-hudson-odoi-raising-his-game-and-how-he-will-address-
Lampard on Hudson-Odoi raising his game and how he will address Thiago
Silva's mistake
19 Jan 2021
Frank Lampard believes increased competition in forward areas and an
injury-free run has contributed to Callum Hudson-Odoi taking his game to
new heights in recent weeks.
https://i.imgur.com/OGEJf7I.jpg
The 20-year-old came off the bench to help break the deadlock at Craven
Cottage on Saturday evening, with his dribbling skills and close control
adding a more direct threat in the final third.
It was his patient approach play on the right-hand side of the Fulham box
that led to the only goal of the game, with Mason Mount eventually firing
in on the half-volley, and that followed a goal in our FA Cup victory
against Morecambe a week earlier.
Lampard admitted after the win across town in south-west London that the
youngster had been unfortunate not to start and the Chelsea head coach
praised his recent efforts, citing improved confidence following a
long-term Achilles injury absence.
'He's definitely playing well and improving, making assists and scoring
goals,' said Lampard. 'He's playing at a really high level in terms of
where we saw him last year recovering from an injury.
'His confidence to go one-v-one and beat his man, which Callum has to be
about, wasn't quite there and we have to understand that because he's
young and he'd come off the back of a really bad injury.
https://i.imgur.com/hyEOLLp.jpg
'Now we're seeing that come back, we're seeing him behind the line, like
when he scored against Morecambe where he breaks the line and scores a
goal. He's doing that much more regularly now, which are things that I ask
from him, so the progression is there.'
Lampard also feels the addition of top attacking talent in the summer to
complement the existing forward players has helped Hudson-Odoi's progress,
as has a desire to improve in training day-in, day-out.
'We've got Christian Pulisic, who last year came to the club and ended the
season with a really good record of goals and assists, the best in his
career,' continued the boss. 'Hakim Ziyech has come in and had a really
good patch for us and brought things to our game.
https://i.imgur.com/TD8NihS.jpg
Hudson-Odoi in action on the right against Fulham
'Callum has raised his game so he will absolutely get opportunities
because he's playing well, better than I've seen him play for us. He's
really contributed and that's through his own hard work and natural talent
so that's good to see.'
After helping the Blues keep a clean sheet at Craven Cottage, Thiago Silva
was pictured handing his shirt to a construction worker on Fulham's
half-built new stand, a generous act that attracted some criticism given
recent Covid-19 protocols introduced to minimise the risk of spreading the
virus.
Lampard admitted it was an innocent mistake from the Brazilian and he
would remind him not to repeat it in the future, although he was quick to
point out that the transgression was hardly one that warranted significant
attention.
'It happened when Everton played at Fulham and Richarlison gave his shirt
to apparently the same member of staff who asked for it,' added Lampard.
'The players were very aware of the new restrictions, which were fresh in
last week about players not swapping shirts, which I think everyone
adhered to.
https://i.imgur.com/jiO3mGB.jpg
Lampard has said he will speak with Thiago Silva following the post-game
incident at Fulham
'I'll speak to him very clearly because swapping shirts with anyone at the
moment is not what we want but these rules are changing a lot and it's
very much an innocent thing. This is not somebody having a New Year's Eve
party with 25 people or someone going out in the street and hanging around
with their mates for too long.
'This is someone who got asked for a shirt and who wasn't maybe quite
clear of the rules. Thiago is a good man and it's a small correction to be
made moving forward.'