Villas-Boas stands firm on Frank

30 September 2011 16:21
Andre Villas-Boas will not be granting Frank Lampard's wish to play every game for Chelsea and said the midfielder must fight for his place.[LNB] Lampard this week admitted he was unhappy at being rotated in and out of the Blues' starting XI since Villas-Boas took charge, claiming he always played better when given a run of matches.[LNB]But Villas-Boas was not for turning on Friday, saying: "The situation with every player in the world is that everybody wants to play and everybody wants to feel part of a team.[LNB]"But in squads of 25, 26 players, there are always the people who want to go back into the team.[LNB]"It's the most normal thing and all of them expect to play.[LNB]"This is part of the day-to-day life on management.[LNB]"Frank, like other players, is fighting for his place and he's been involved in almost every game."[LNB]After starting three of Chelsea's previous four matches on the bench, Lampard was recalled on Wednesday night for the 1-1 Champions League draw at Valencia.[LNB]Villas-Boas is bound to leave the midfielder out again at some point but, at least when he does, he will not need to worry about his fellow 33-year-old turning on him.[LNB]Indeed, there could hardly have been a greater contrast this week between Lampard's response to his recent lack of action and the alleged behaviour of Carlos Tevez.[LNB]Manchester City striker Tevez is currently serving a two-week suspension for disobeying manager Roberto Mancini's instructions during Tuesday night's Champions League game at Bayern Munich.[LNB]Villas-Boas refused to be drawn on the controversy this afternoon, saying: "When it's not my business and I'm not in full control of the information, I cannot emit an opinion because that opinion might be false.[LNB]"It's nothing to do with me. It's up to Man City to deal with the situation.[LNB]"Everybody has to deal with their own problems."[LNB]Villas-Boas was also reluctant to provide details on how Chelsea would deal with a similar alleged revolt.[LNB]Revealing he had never been put in that position, the former Porto boss said: "If that happens, we will have to look at the situation and we will have to set up a pattern of coherence in the actions that we do."[LNB]With Chelsea's Premier League trip to Bolton on Sunday coming just four days after their match in Valencia, Villas-Boas might be tempted to leave out Lampard.[LNB]However, the international break immediately follows the game at the Reebok, which might mean there is less of a concern about lingering fatigue.[LNB]"We have plenty of time to recover, so I think, physically, the team will respond accordingly," said Villas-Boas, who will be forced into at least one change with Fernando Torres beginning a three-match domestic ban.[LNB]Didier Drogba looks certain to start for the first time since suffering a sickening head injury more than a month ago.[LNB]"In terms of fitness, he is ready," Villas-Boas said of the striker, who marked his comeback against Swansea on Saturday with a goal after coming off the bench.[LNB]"He's on top form, so he's available for selection. We just have to decide what we want strategically for the game."[LNB]Daniel Sturridge is also set for a recall after shaking off a knee problem that forced him from the field in the Carling Cup win over Fulham just over a week ago.[LNB]"He'll be up for selection," said Villas-Boas.[LNB]"He's, of course, a player we trust."[LNB]Sturridge spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton, where Chelsea have won on their last eight visits without conceding a goal.[LNB]They will be expected to beat the side currently propping up the table and close what could be a six-point gap to Manchester United and Manchester City, who play Norwich and Blackburn on Saturday, respectively.[LNB]Watch Bolton v Chelsea live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1 from 1330 BST on Sunday.

Source: Team_Talk