Soccer: Lampard the key to Chelsea success, says Redknapp

IT WAS hardly surprising that Claudio Ranieri and Harry Redknapp were in total agreement over the “fantastic” contribution of Frank Lampard to Chelsea’s Premiership title challenge.

Ranieri has hung his hat on the England midfielder providing the enterprise and style to drive on his foreign legion of big-money stars.

Redknapp has always been a Lampard fan, since he nurtured him as a boy at West Ham where his dad, Frank Snr, was also the coach.

The fruits of that footballing education were plain to see as Lampard ran the show, struck a post and scored a goal in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

And while Redknapp described him as a midfielder who “will always score goals” and Ranieri preferred that simple “fantastic”, it was left to Lampard to explain the roots of his consistent form this season.

“Harry was massively important to me,” said Lampard. “A lot of what I know is down to Harry and the coaching he gave me when I was young.

“He worked very well with my father and between them they taught me a lot. There was a lot of ball work and it was very relaxed with the emphasis on skill.

“Harry has done a great job at Portsmouth. They were nowhere when he went there. I certainly hope Portsmouth can stay up this season because of him.”

With so many experienced and expensive stars around him, Lampard might have been swamped at Chelsea. He has been anything but, being just about the first name and most consistent performer on Ranieri’s team sheet each week.

“Contrary to what people might think, they do play their best players,” said Redknapp. “And it’s no coincidence that Lampard plays every week. He scored a quality goal against us but he scored a lot of goals at West Ham like that. He always will do.”

It is part of the reason Redknapp believes Chelsea, four points behind Manchester United, still have a great chance of winning the Premiership under Ranieri.

“I wouldn’t like to pick a winner from the three teams at the top,” he said. “I’ve never said Chelsea wouldn’t win the championship. They have as much chance as anybody and, with the size of their squad, they are entitled to have.”

With Juan Sebastian Veron likely to be out for another three weeks with a back injury, Damien Duff out for at least as long with a shoulder problem which medical staff hope will mend without the need for surgery, Lampard’s contribution is crucial.

He is the one shining beacon in a midfield which has struggled to accommodate the inconsistent talents of Joe Cole and has not yet seen the best of Claude Makelele and Geremi, while Jesper Gronkjaer remains one of the most frustrating ‘final pass’ wingers in the Premiership.

Redknapp would love such problems, having assembled his squad for less than £5m and with a lengthy injury list at the season’s half-way mark compounded at the weekend by Steve Stone’s hamstring injury.