Frank Lampard responds to Chelsea fans booing 2 players
Frank Lampard has praised substitutes Raheem Sterling and Hakim Ziyech's performance in win over Bournemouth after fans booed both their introductions.
Chelsea picked up their first win under caretaker manager Lampard on Saturday, guaranteeing their place in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season thanks to a 3-1 win at the Vitality Stadium.
That first victory was the Blues' first in nine in all competitions, and came largely thanks to the performance of two under-fire substitutes - Ziyech and Sterling. The pair were roundly booed by Chelsea fans when they were introduced in the second half, but both went on to make telling contributions with Zyiech assisting Benoit Badiashile's goals and Sterling assisting Joao Felix's.
Speaking to the press after the game, Lampard was keen to praise Ziyech and Sterling.
“They’re two players, Hakim and Raheem, that want to do well as football players and they have big talent both of them," he said.
“If it’s form, it’s very much temporary and I think their class is permanent and I’m pleased for them today having an impact when they came on.”
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Lampard also took the time to discuss the 'small step forward' Saturday's win was: “It was very evident in the dressing room from coming in that there was a lot of picking up that needed to be done and unfortunately you need results to come in line with that to keep you stepping forward, so that’s been tough. It was a nice small step forward.
“The lads are all human, we’re all affected in similar ways when you’re not winning games or you don’t feel at your best and the only way to get through that is to fight and to work through it.
“I’ve been in relative periods where they’re tough, so absolutely they should enjoy tonight and have a beer or have a glass of wine or do whatever they do. But we cannot take our foot of the pedal in terms of trying to take steps forward until the end of this season because it’s important.”
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