Frank Lampard: I’d never do what Carlos Tevez did

Posted Friday, September 30, 2011 by The Sun

Frank Lampard: I’d never do what Carlos Tevez did
BACKLASH ... Carlos Tevez could be on his way out of Manchester City

FRANK LAMPARD is not happy with life on the Chelsea bench but insists he would NEVER do a Carlos Tevez.

The Stamford Bridge stalwart is coming to terms with the fact he is not going to play every game under Andre Villas-Boas.

Yet Lamps will not be throwing his toys out of the pram like Manchester City's Argentine drama queen and is doing everything he can to remain a key figure at the club.

Lampard, 33, returned to the starting line-up in style on Wednesday night, scoring his team's crucial goal in the 1-1 Champions League draw at Valencia.

The midfielder knows he could quickly be back on the bench — where he spent the entire 90 minutes against Swansea last weekend — yet refuses to take it personally as new boss Villas-Boas continues with his policy of rest and rotation.

Lampard said: "Everyone knows what happened with Carlos Tevez in Munich the other night and I can't imagine myself ever doing something like that.

"I'm not going to dig anyone out because I can understand a player's frustration when he's not in the team. Some people might make the wrong decision at the wrong time and then regret it later on.

"We all deal with frustration in different ways and I would never turn down the chance to come on and play in a game. I'll always keep working to be involved.

"But that doesn't mean I'm happy to be on the bench and I don't think the manager expects that because it would mean I'm content to just stick my bum on the bench and pick up my money."

Lampard had started just one game in four for Chelsea prior to the match in Valencia — and he lasted just 45 minutes in that before being hauled off with Chelsea 3-0 down against Manchester United.

He admitted: "I wasn't surprised to be taken off, just frustrated to be part of a team that was losing 3-0 at half-time.

"You have to accept that when you're three goals down, anyone can probably come off.

"I am a man who likes to play consistently and I think I'm always better when I have a run of games. In many years it has taken me a few games into the season to really find my best form.

"But that's the manager's decision and all you can do if you're not playing is stay strong and keep yourself in good shape so you're ready when you're called upon.

"It means you have to work even harder in training and do extra stuff to keep up with the other lads who are playing the full 90 minutes.

"But with the squad we now have, you have to respect the players who might be in the team ahead of you in any particular game.

"And when you do play, you have to show the manager 'OK, you want to rotate but I want to be one of the guys you can put your house on that is going to play pretty regularly'."

Lampard, who holds the Premier League record for most consecutive appearances with 164 for Chelsea between 2001 and 2005, has no idea if he will keep his place in the Blues' starting- line-up for Sunday's Premier League trip to Bolton. But he is keen to be involved at the Reebok and help in what he believes will be the toughest title race of his 10 years at Chelsea.

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