Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard has said that patience is the key to developing young talent at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues boss has been praised for his use of young players this season. Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori are all regulars in the starting 11 under Lampard, and as a consequence have earned a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad.
Chelsea were in a poor run of form before facing Tottenham, losing three of their last four games, but a 2-0 win against their rivals put smiles back on the faces at the club, with Mason Mount saying that the result could be a turning point for Chelsea's youngsters.
“After the four defeats in five games, people were doubting us," he said. "Us young players are going to get asked questions. We knew today could be the turning point."
A transfer ban during the summer, meant that Chelsea had no choice but to use the youngsters in the team, something that has ultimately paid off, however, the club are now able to make new signings during the January window.
But will the performance of the young players against Spurs change Lampard's plans for the transfer window?
"No not in terms of the plans for January. I asked for a reaction after Bournemouth. I asked for a reaction myself with the players pre Tottenham. They gave it. I was not of the belief or thinking that they could not give it," he said in his pre-match press conference.
Lampard also says that patience is a must when it comes to giving young players a chance, seemingly referring back to the sales of Kevin de Bruyne and Mo Salah.
"I believe in these players and the young players and I though Mason Mount’s performance, not just to isolate Mason as I thought Tammy was fantastic and Tomori was too, but his performance was a great example of why you want to stick with and have patience with these young players because he is a young boy and there will be moments where the game will be difficult for him and he will learn," he added.
"And the next one he will be better. And then there will be games like the other day when you can see the player that he is. If we are not patient and stick with the players we might be in a situation before where absolutely top world-class players at this minute have been at Chelsea when they were 20 or 21 and managers maybe did not stick with them so much then. I am in a position where I will stick with them."
