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Lampard refutes rumours on Chelsea conspiracy against Mourinho

Xinhua, December 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Frank Lampard, former English midfielder and all-time leading scorer for Chelsea FC, said here Monday he does not believe that the present crisis of his former London-based club was because of a covert "revolt" or "conspiracy" of the team against sacked coach Jose Mourinho.

   Speaking at a workshop of the 10th annual Dubai Sports Council conference, Lampard said the reason for Chelsea which - after winning the 2015 Football League Cup in March this year - nine out of 16 Premier League match losses in the 2015/2016 season was "because too many Chelsea players are currently underperforming."

   At first, Lampard who currently plays for New York City FC said jokingly with a sense of British humour that a one hour workshop was "not enough" to sum up the reasons for Chelsea's stuttering start into the new season.

   On rumours that the squad has conspired against their former coach to get rid of him through a slowdown strike on the field, Lampard said, "I would be careful with the word conspiracy. This is a quite an expression and on the field everyone is responsible. When six to eight players do not do well, you do not achieve your goals." 

   On Dec. 17, Chelsea, owned since 2003 by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, fired the Portuguese elite trainer following the club's poor performance.

   Asked if he plans to return to his former club for which he played 13 years during which he led Chelsea to secure their first league and FA Cup Double, Lampard said it was too early to speculate as he wants to give his best as a player with current club in New York.

   "Certainly, the Chelsea fans relate the club's name with my name, among other top players, and I am thankful for this. But if I return, must also be decided by the club's owners," said 37-year old Lampard who was awarded on Sunday in Dubai the Globe Soccer's Players Career Award which always takes place ahead of the last transfer window. During his Chelsea career, Lampard scored a record of 147 goals.

   "Wherever I will be playing, I will remain a midfielder. I consider myself as too slow for a striker," said Lampard.

   While with Chelsea he associates the biggest success of his career, Lampard admitted he still regards the 1-4 loss to Germany in the 2010 FIFA World Cup as the low point in his career as a professional footballer, adding that he hopes England would get soon back to the world class level in the coming years.

   In the last FIFA World Cup in 2014 in Brazil, England was eliminated at the group stage.  Endi