Frank Lampard: There's no room for bitterness at Chelsea

FRANK LAMPARD knows that though some Chelsea fans may boo him, Jose Mourinho still loves him.

In fact it was all Text Santa between them during the festive season.

The former Stamford Bridge golden boy returned to his old stomping ground, but his golden touch could not separate these two titans of the Premier League.

The smart money was on Lampard appearing late in the game as a substitute, as he has so often this season for City, and snatching a winner against his old team.

But this war of attrition ended in stalemate, and Mourinho will have ended the happier man with his weakened Chelsea still five points clear at the top of the table.

Lampard, who left last summer after the offer of a new one-year deal did not materialise, had once vowed he would never come back to Chelsea in another team's colours after 13 years and numerous trophies at the Bridge.

But Frank is a pro, he still feels he has something to offer at the highest level at the age of 36, and eight goals so far prove that. And there is no bitterness between he and Mourinho.

"We were close, and we remain close," said Lampard. "Jose is concentrating on his team and trying to win the league. I'm concentrating on doing my job.

"I don't think there's room for bitterness, and if there is, then I'll deal with that down the line. At the minute we're both just focused on what we have to do.

"There's no issue at all. I got a text at Christmas, I texted him back. We spoke in the dressing room after the game, how's the family, the usual. We are grown men.

"We are playing for different clubs, and that's the way it is. Jose was at Chelsea, he moved on, he's come back.

"He might move on again. As you get older you understand that as a professional, it's your job and you move on.

"We're both big enough that none of that is going to get in the way of our relationship."

I don't think there's room for bitterness, and if there is, then I'll deal with that down the line

Frank Lampard

Mourinho reckons Lampard will one day return to Chelsea in some role, and while there were scattered boos from some fans yet to forgive Lampard for first committing to New York City and then staying in Manchester, at the end most were on their feet applauding.

"I was nervous before the game," added Lampard. "To come as part of the away team, with all the attention on me, I'm pleased with how it went.

"It was great to see all the faces. I don't begrudge some of the fans booing me. What Chelsea fans did was support their team, as they always do. But at the end they gave me something that meant a lot to me."

With Diego Costa banned and Cesc Fabregas, John Obi Mikel and Filipe Luis injured, and Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah on their way to other clubs, this game showed the flimsy nature of Mourinho's squad, with three youngsters on the bench.