Chelsea teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi admits that the fines system put in place by Frank Lampard is strict, but that the players don’t really think too much about it.
The fines in place at Chelsea have attracted much attention this week after a document that is signed by Lampard emerged online showing how much players have to pay for being late for a matchday or treatment, a phone ringing during a team meal or meeting and refusal or not turning up for corporate or community duties.
A club source has confirmed that the document is genuine, with the fines ranging from £500 per minute for being late for a team meeting to £20,000 for being late for the start of training.
The severity of the fines has sparked much debate from pundits and fans alike, but Hudson-Odoi insists that the Chelsea players would adhere to the rules, even without such fines in place as he gave an insight into how the Blues head coach operates in an interview with the Independent.
“We have a couple of fines where it’s very strict and we have to stick by it,” says Hudson-Odoi.
“But even if there weren’t fines we would still be on point. All of us are on time with everything we do. If there is a fine we pay it, but we don’t really think about it.
“[Lampard] is hard on me, but it’s in a good way because he wants me to improve and keep getting better. The manager’s very strict on me but it’s always for a better cause.”
And Hudson-Odoi cited the example of Chelsea’s 7-1 win against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup back in September, when Lampard was still critical of aspects of his side’s play, despite the margin of victory.
“He wants to win in the best way, not just the result but with the best performance as well,” Hudson-Odoi said.
“He told me at half-time ‘Cal, you can do a couple of things better’. He was a bit critical but what he did was helpful because now I’m trying to listen to him a bit more.
“He was telling me to get into more pockets [of space], run in behind defenders, make different angles. I was listening to him and thinking ‘When you go out in the second half, try and do that’. I tried much more and it was working, I was getting opportunities from it, so I’ve just got to keep listening and I’ll improve.”
One thing is for certain, Lampard’s tough stance with players is having the desired effect, with Chelsea currently sitting third in the Premier League after recording their sixth win in a row in the league by beating Crystal Palace 2-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
