Ibrahim Oladamola
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard says he has no issues with co-owner Todd Boehly entering the changing room after every match, despite a reported angry tirade from the American at the Blues squad on Saturday.
Report claim Boehly entered the Chelsea dressing room after the Blues’ 2-1 home loss to Brighton at the weekend, which left the club in 11th place in the Premier League and without a win in six.
The report added that Boehly described Chelsea’s current form as “embarrassing” as he singled out one senior player signed in the summer for not performing well enough.
Speaking on the eve of Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid, with the Blues trailing 2-0 in the tie, Lampard said of Boehly’s post-game behavior: “I am comfortable with that.
“For me, there was some criticism of our old owner about not coming and being around – and that wasn’t always true, to be fair. When an owner is very invested in the team and wants to help and improve, it’s his prerogative to have the input that they want.
“I have no problems with it. I have my things I want to say after the game. If an owner wants to be positive and wants to speak to the players, then it’s his part to do that.
“As Kepa said, it can be very regular in the modern day. In fact, it shows passion. That’s what I like.”
“Passion goes both ways,” he added. “Fans show passion. I don’t think the ownership would come in and be involved at Chelsea and expect anything other than complete passion for wanting this club to do well.
“We’ve been fortunate to have been very successful for a lot of years, the last 20 years, which means you want more of it. So I don’t think anyone is schooling on that.
“Passionate owners want to make a difference and have a real vision for the club. We’re in the early stages of the process on those terms.
“When you look at processes in the Premier League, we know we’re off that, as we know. People always question everything at the beginning and in the early part of the process. We have to get our heads down with what is in front of us.
“Passion is normal, I think. I don’t find it as a problem. We can all work with passion to work in the same direction to get where we want to be.”
