Frank Lampard had contrasting views on two of Chelsea's teenage stars after the 1-0 defeat to new Premier League champions Manchester City. After a season of disappointment at Stamford Bridge the 15th loss of a torturous season was more like a training game than anything too competitive.
It means that Chelsea's best placed finish for the year is 10th whilst they also face the prospect of scoring less than a goal per game, too. Although losing to City, albeit a heavily rotated XI, is nothing to be ashamed of, it was the seventh loss in nine games under Lampard with just one win coming.
As the Blues finish the season with another trip to Manchester, this time away to United on Thursday, and the final day visit of Newcastle, there is a real chance of having picked up their last points of the campaign. In a worst case scenario it would leave them with six points out of a possible 36 since mid-March.
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For fans it has not only been a frustrating time for results but also in terms of the plan going forward with muddled selection from Lampard, partially born out of the huge squad at his disposal and injuries continuing to mount. With nothing to play for other than pride throughout, many have been left frustrated at the lack of gametime handed to younger players during the interim spell.
That has changed somewhat in recent weeks with more opportunities afforded to Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Noni Madueke but Mykhailo Mudryk, David Datro Fofana and Carney Chukwuemeka have all largely been exiled or left out entirely.
Lewis Hall, on the other hand, was handed his chance at the Etihad Stadium for the third time this season after playing in both domestic cup losses to Pep Guardiola's side, as well. In his first set of senior games the 18-year-old has impressed in a flexible left wing-back and centre midfield role despite his inexperience.
Lampard, who chose to keep the youngster back at Cobham rather than allowing him to join up with England's Under-20 side for the World Cup, was full of praise after his game. "We certainly rate him," he said.
"Joe [Edwards] and Andy [Myers], who work with me, have a better understanding of him as a lad and all those things are important as well. He's a quiet lad, the first thing that I've seen, he definitely needs to come out of himself a little bit more. I'm not asking him to change his personality but in footballing terms to effect people around him.
"In terms of quality on the ball, that's really clear. In terms of quality, if you see him with the ball and the things he can do, he's got the levels, he's obviously got to add to that as he goes along. Another academy one that we've produced and it will be good to see him in regular games at this level to be tested more but he's shown he can do that."
Lampard hadn't turned to Hall until last week's draw with Nottingham Forest, to the annoyance of many. His chance has come after injuries to Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell but there is hope that he will be able to hold down a first team chance for the imminent arrival of Mauricio Pochettino as head coach in the summer.
Even with such competition at full-back, his versatility has made him an important option set for more minutes in the final two games as well as looking forward. His teammate, Chukwuemeka, was also held back during the Under-20 group stages and is yet to start a game under Lampard.
His time has been more frustrating this season after Graham Potter turned away from him after the busy January transfer window. His chances since then have been limited despite coming in from Aston Villa for a big fee for a teenager and with high hopes.
Lampard has been consistent in his message that Chukwuemeka, along with others, needs to train better to prove his point. "I was a player for 20 years, it didn't go my way every time," he explained.
"When you're a young player you have to wait your time or there are moments where you just have to understand. There's a lot going on with Carney where he's been here: I'm not the first manager he hasn't got loads of minutes under. It's been a season like that for him. I want to get him minutes because he's not going to the World Cup but I have to think about my job."
Chukwuemeka has also fallen foul to injuries changing his squad status in recent weeks with Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic and N'Golo Kante all out. The 19-year-old has still been limited in his gametime, though.
"I thought he did well when he came on, I know it's 10, 15 minutes," Lampard continued. "He will get more minutes I hope in these next two games coming up then he may go to a World Cup after that and next season he can be a fantastic player going forward if he does all of the things he needs to do. I liked his performance.
"I said the other day, it's a shame he couldn't go away in a way. He's a Chelsea player and we need him. He understood that well."
For Pochettino, Chukwuemeka is a player of great intrigue. He fits the bill for attacking players in his side but also, as Lampard said, has been told by several coaches that more needs to be seen behind the scenes in order to earn a chance. football.london understands that a loan is on the cards for him this summer.
In contrast to Hall, who came directly from the club's academy, Chukwuemeka's future is uncertain in the short-term and Lampard is only making that clearer by the game.
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