‘I speak to’: Frank Lampard says he still messages 23-year-old Chelsea player after coaching him

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Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has now shared that he is still in contact with at least one current player at the club.

He told Joe that current captain Reece James is a player he still messages despite no longer being manager of the club.

Lampard came in as a temporary boss towards the end of last season, when many of the players seeming to have downed tools in what was a dire campaign.

His interim spell paled in comparison to when he was permanently at the club, qualifying for the Champions League off the back of a transfer ban.

One player who was at his disposal for both periods was James, who is currently the skipper of his boyhood club.

Lampard still in contact with James

The club’s record goalscorer has now shared how he is still in contact with the 23-year-old.

He said: “If you can be a help to a player, not just on the pitch but on the pitch. I still hold good relationships with a lot of players that I’ve coached, particularly the younger ones were you feel like you’ve really had a part in their development.

“I speak to Mason Mount or Reece James that you’re chatting to or meeting up with, trying to give advice, and you get a nice feeling off that. You’re a little part of their career and things like that.

“They do [reach out]. I’m lucky to have worked with some good young players in my early days of management. You have to have some close relationships to get the best out of them. I enjoy that part of it. I speak to the lads because I have a big interest in them.”

While a lot of the young English core that flourished during Lampard’s first spell in charge have moved on now, James remains a crucial member of the first team.

This is of course when he is fit. Injuries have continued to plague his progress for the first team.

In his absence, Malo Gusto has proven that he will give him quite the fight for the position in the future years too.

The Frenchman’s brilliance has also seen him feature at times on the left of defence, and this does at least suggest there could be a future where both can start at Stamford Bridge.