Chelsea news: Frank Lampard tipped to be ‘one of the best managers in the world’ by Eden Hazard
The Chelsea boss has earned plaudits for a fine start to life at Stamford Bridge
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has been receiving plenty of praise for guiding Chelsea to a good start to the Premier League season, but now former Blues’ star Eden Hazard has gone one further, suggesting he could go on to prove one of the finest head coaches in the game.
His first games in charge this term didn’t quite go to plan, losing 4-0 to Manchester United and being defeated in the UEFA Super Cup by Liverpool.
Since then, though, Chelsea have lost just once in the league – once more against Liverpool – and now sit third place after 12 games, above reigning champions Manchester City fc and with a nine-point buffer down to fifth in the race for Champions League places.
While still a relative novice in the management arena, Lampard has shown his strengths in bringing through several young players, encouraging a positive atmosphere within the squad and bringing the fans onside at Chelsea after a fairly tumultuous period under Maurizio Sarri.
When asked whether he was surprised at the impact Lampard was having, Hazard made it clear that Lampard’s personality was a key factor.
“No, not at all,” he told reporters.
“I know Frank as a player, not as a manager, but he’s a great guy. He’s showed already after four months that he can be one of the best managers in the world.”
While Chelsea have not been able to spend big this year in the manner they have previously, leading to the likes of Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham being able to have a big impact, Hazard isn’t sure that it wouldn’t have happened anyway.
In fact, he suggests that if the correct deals had been made, Chelsea could have been even higher in the table than they currently are.
“The good thing is that they are playing with young players, young English players. For England it’s good, for Chelsea it’s good. They are lucky to have young players with quality.
“I don’t know [if the transfer ban has actually been good for Chelsea]. Maybe with two or three more players, they would be first. When I saw them play it’s nice, they all play together.
“I still have good friends there. I follow them all the time. They are winning at the moment so I’m just happy for them.”
Hazard, who left for Real Madrid in the summer, has now started to find his own form recently, with the 28-year-old scoring twice for Belgium against Russia during the international break and claiming one goal and three assists at club level in his last four LaLiga starts.
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