Lampard on good terms with Di Matteo

Frank Lampard has suggested Roberto Di Matteo has dealt much better than Andre Villas-Boas with telling him that he has been left out of the Chelsea team.

Blues star Lampard has lifted the lid on his relationship with caretaker boss Di Matteo and it appears to be in stark contrast to that he endured with sacked manager Villas-Boas.

Lampard admitted shortly before Villas-Boas’ departure to having been at odds with the 34-year-old, who habitually omitted him from big games. Matters reportedly came to a head when Lampard was told he would not be starting February’s Champions League match at Napoli.

Di Matteo, who has started Lampard almost every game since taking charge, delivered similar news before last week’s quarter-final win at Benfica.

Asked if Di Matteo had taken a different approach to Villas-Boas, Lampard said: “Yes, that is fair to say. I spoke with Robbie and certainly had no issue with it. I was delighted to get the result we got. I came on in the last 20 minutes, anyway.”

Di Matteo could rest Lampard again for tomorrow’s return match with Benfica, while Chelsea will continue to monitor the injured David Luiz (ankle) and Didier Drogba (foot).