Former Chelsea winger Willian has heaped praise on Frank Lampard during their time together at Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian has stated that he rates the English manager above all others he's worked with at the club, with the exception of Jose Mourinho.
Over his seven-year spell with the Blues, Willian collected a shiny haul of five major trophies. He made his move to Chelsea from Anzhi in 2013 for £25 million, just moments after opting against a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur. Under Mourinho, he won the Premier League and the EFL Cup, while Conte delivered yet another league title and an FA Cup win, followed by a Europa League triumph under Maurizio Sarri.
However, it was the 2019/20 season under Lampard that remains a fond memory for the Brazilian, despite lacking silverware. In a chat with John Obi Mikel on The Obi One podcast, Willian described how the current Coventry manager granted him complete freedom on the pitch and turned him into a leader.
He was magnificent. For me, after Mourinho, he was the best at Chelsea. He literally gave me the keys to the game. In some matches, I wore the captain’s armband. Training sessions were brilliant: intense workouts, short games, and ball retention drills. That season, we finished fourth under a transfer ban, relying on youth. He told me: “I trust you. I want you to help the young players and become a leader.” I’m not one to shout in the changing room; I’m more composed, but he still entrusted me with that role,— Willian emphasised.
The 2019/20 season was Willian’s most prolific in the Premier League, finishing with nine goals and seven assists. Yet that summer, he made the controversial decision to join fierce rivals Arsenal, a move he now regards as a serious mistake.
