Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has reiterated that there are no rifts in his relationship with midfielder Frank Lampard.
Chelsea boss insists there is no issue to resolve with midfielder
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has reiterated that there are no rifts in his relationship with midfielder Frank Lampard.
His comments come a week after Lampard had explained that their relationship had "not been ideal".
The England international has had to watch from the substitutes' bench on a number of occasions this season, an unfamiliar role for the Stamford Bridge favourite.
Despite not being a regular fixture in the first-team, Lampard has still managed to score 12 goals this season, including one against Bolton in their 3-0 win last week.
But Villas-Boas has denied that he is not speaking to Lampard and that there was nothing to resolve.
Genuine
He said: "It's just a manager-player relationship in the end. Frank's words are genuine. They are genuine from a player that has a reflection of a relationship between us.
"For me, it's fine, I have no problems with it.
"I have to choose the team and I try to choose the best team for every single game.
"It hasn't involved Frank a couple of times but it doesn't mean I have a personal problem with him.
"His own interpretation of the relationship is his own but I have no problem with it and I explained it to him.
"They are decisions I have to take for the benefit of the team, always."
Played down
Meanwhile, Villas-Boas has played down comments made by defender David Luiz, who mentioned that the Chelsea players need to start obeying the manager's decisions.
He explained that they need to act more like 'employees' of the club amidst rumours that Villas-Boas was being undermined by the senior players in the squad.
But the Blues boss has brushed off the comments and explained that everything is running in a professional manner.
He said: "It's no different from any other club. We're all employees of the club, professionals of the club.
"Players have to take responsibilities. Managers have to take responsibilities from the owner."
