Frank Lampard believes Chelsea’s transfer ban can boost their start to the season by removing any distractions at the start of August.
The Blues boss replaced Maurizio Sarri in charge of Stamford Bridge after a successful debut campaign in management with Derby County last season.
And the Blues legend is embracing the situation he finds himself in, with greater opportunities for the young players coming up from the club’s esteemed academy.
“A club like Chelsea always wants to improve in terms of the transfer market, if you can bring in players who can improve the squad you look at that,” Lampard admitted.
“But the decision and the story was made before I got the job. The transfer ban is here so it is probably a waste of my time to think too much about what could have been or should have been, my job is to have absolute belief in the players and that is what I think the week’s training has started to give me, because I can see a quality and attitude within the squad.
“When you know where you are at it hones in what is important, which is the club together, players, fans, staff, everybody, giving everything to improve daily and improve game by game, because with the squad we have we can be really competitive this year.
“It helps my focus and if there’s a blessing in disguise it’s the fact that we don’t have a stressful start of August with the transfer window.”
Mason Mount signed a new five-year contract at the club after impressing with the Rams under Lampard’s tutelage last season and has already left his mark in pre-season this summer.
The impact of the transfer ban could hand him a chance to force his way into the first team squad this term, something Lampard is encouraged by.
“In terms of where it leaves us with people like Mason Mount, I am delighted that he has signed a new contract,” Lampard added. “I think everybody knows that I have a keen eye for the younger players in the academy, that they have produced and we have a batch of them that are fighting to get into the first team.
“To be absolutely clear, they now have to make the difference. It’s a road that is given to them and now they have to be the ones that play well enough to get into the team.
“I don’t care about age, I care about performance and how people train and play. Now with the squad it is up to those players to show what they can do.”
