Football
Reuters 19y

Soccer-Chelsea boring? Don't make me laugh, says Lampard

By Nick Mulvenney

LONDON, Sept 20 - Midfielder Frank Lampard is
amused by criticism of Chelsea as boring and thinks the idea
that the English champions might be unbeatable is risible.

Lampard, speaking at the inaugural FIFpro world player of
the year awards where he was one of three Chelsea players voted
on to a World XI, said he was unconvinced by critics who said
the London club were making English football boring.

"I find it quite funny," the England midfielder said. "We're
top of the league and we've yet to lose a game.

"We obviously don't agree with people who say we're boring.
We'll just keep on trying to play enjoyable, exciting football
and win games.

"If we win the league again and people find that boring,
well I'm sorry," added the England midfielder with a grin.

Such has been their commanding form so far this season,
bookmakers have started offering odds not only on Chelsea going
through the season unbeaten but also on them winning all of
their matches.

"We're not invincible, no team is invincible," Lampard said.
"And we have to make sure that we don't ever think we are
because that would be our downfall.

"We've got to stay very focused and be aware that we are
beatable and could always lose our next game. We have that
attitude every week and if we keep that up we should be very
successful."

Former Chelsea manager and player Gianluca Vialli agreed
with Lampard's caution.

"We all know that the premiership is a very long
championship," said the Italian. "Anything can happen. There's
going to come a point when the best players and best teams will
slow down because they're playing so many competitions.

"But certainly Chelsea look very impressive, particularly as
they won the title last year and you would have thought they'd
have started more slowly.

"But they've started as if they've still got a point to
prove and so far they've been great. It's going to be difficult
for Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool ... to keep up with
them."

Vialli also said he thought Jose Mourinho's side were far
from boring.

"Chelsea are a very entertaining side," said the former
Juventus striker. "They combine better than anybody else the
fighting spirit, amazing desire to win and high-temp play of
English football with the very solid, consistent, defensive play
of Italian football.

"This is possibly the best combination, and if you can
manage it in England, Italy or France you are likely to win a
lot. Mourinho has been brilliant to achieve that."

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