Frank Lampard has told his Chelsea squad he expects them to stick together through thick and thing following last week’s reported bust-up with Marcos Alonso.
The Chelsea manager stunned his players last weekend at the Hawthorns with one dressing room source claiming the players had never seen their boss so angry.
Alonso was at fault for the concession of at least one of the goals as Chelsea trailed 3-0 at the break and Lampard is said to have torn a strip off the Spaniard after he watched part of the second half fightback from the team bus following his substitution, rather than with the rest of his team-mates.
Chelsea eventually claimed an unlikely draw following a spirited second half revival and with summer signing Ben Chilwell now fully fit, Alonso’s chances of regular first team football are likely to be limited.
Lampard insists it would be unprofessional of him to hold a grudge against the 29-year-old and although he was unwilling to elaborate on the details of their heated conversation, he conceded a lack of togetherness would only serve to undermine the team spirit he is attempting to create in a new-look side.
He said: ‘I’m not going to disclose what goes on in the dressing room. It was disappointing to be 3-0 down at half-time. All I ask of the players whatever the situation good or bad is to stick together.
‘It doesn’t effect anything long term or ongoing. I can’t hold grudges we have to work together to get better and things happen over the course of a season.’
‘Absolutely Roy has been a straight down the line manager and coach,’ said Lampard, who worked under the Eagles boss as a player with England. ‘His career has been exceptional. There will be no touchline spats with him.
