Ross Barkley speaks on the positives under Frank Lampard in training

Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley has indicated that manager Frank Lampard has urged the players to express themselves and take more risks on the playing field. The Blues adapted a passing style of football under the guidance of former boss Maurizio Sarri but things have changed under Lampard, who has preferred a more attacking formation.

Speaking to reporters, Barkley said: “In training the manager has been saying, ‘Express yourself on the pitch, take risks, don’t be too safe, shoot, try and create chances’. It is something I can do and it is what he has been putting into me in training and the pre-season games. I have seen what he was capable of as a player when I played with him for England a few years ago. He has brought the work ethic that he had as a player and as a manager into the squad.”

Barkley has been one of the players, who has looked positive under the guidance of Lampard and he has scored in back-to-back games against Barcelona and Reading. Nonetheless, he has the tendency to remain passive during different phases of the game and that is something he needs to improve on to become a regular from the starting lineup.

Elsewhere, Mason Mount has made the opportunities count during pre-season and he is currently the club’s leading goalscorer this summer with three goals from five games. Lampard has already stated that the 20-year-old is ready to make the cut to the first-team and he could be competing with Barkley for the number 10 role in the changed 4-2-3-1 formation.

Chelsea have shown more intent upfront with six goals from the past two friendlies, but they need to find a resolution at the back, considering they have kept just one clean sheet during the pre-season campaign. The Blues face Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Monchengladbach in the remaining friendly matches ahead of the new season.