Frank Lampard gives honest answer when asked to compare himself to Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour after Everton thrashing
Frank Lampard admitted Billy Gilmour is taking the ball in uncomfortable positions on the pitch – something he was unable to do at the same age coming through at West Ham United.
The 18-year-old picked up his second man-of-the-match award in as many games as he sparked injury-hit Chelsea's 4-0 romp past Everton in the Blues' biggest Premier League winning margin under Frank Lampard.
Mason Mount, Pedro, Willian and Olivier Giroud all found the net as Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti endured a wretched first return to Stamford Bridge since his two-year tenure as Chelsea boss.
Lampard's Chelsea have won 5-2 at Wolves and 4-1 at Southampton, but this was the first time the ex-Blues midfielder's side had prevailed in the league by four clear goals.
Midfielder Gilmour again provided the ignition, with the teenager more than backing up his star performance in Tuesday's 2-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool.
He proved the catalyst for Chelsea's first two goals, in a full Premier League debut of composure and class.
The Blues were without seven first-team regulars but Gilmour ensured Chelsea never missed a beat, despite the absence of international midfielders N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho.
Lampard knows about the pressure of making it as a young midfielder in the Premier League having earned his stripes at the fabled ‘Academy of Football’ at West Ham United alongside the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick.
But the former England captain was more than willing to admit Gilmour is showing levels of bravery combined with technical ability which even he was not able to show as a youngster.
“Well, I tell you what, I wasn’t dominating midfield possession at 18 like he is,” Lampard told talkSPORT.
“At West Ham, you probably saw that, I was trying to get into the box and score some goals! He’s showing personality to receive the ball back in his own half.
“You never know with the young players until you throw them in, some players give you confidence that they will take it all on board because of their game intelligence or their attitude.
“And I always thought that and I am confident in that, I’ve got no fear to throw an 18-year-old in and I will talk him up and say that because he has a great character about him.
"Just the way he is, the way he approaches every day his training.
“All he has done now is set standards that the landscape will change for him because people will expect that.
“That’s not a bad thing, but what a set of performances he has shown this week.”