Zola: ' Chelsea not doing Lampard favour by letting loanees play'

In normal circumstances, loanees would not be permitted to play against their parent club in the event that their adoptive club were to be drawn against them in any domestic competition. 

However in a 'gesture of goodwill', Chelsea announced that Derby loanees Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori would be allowed to play against them in the club's Carabao cup tie at Stamford Bridge on Wedneday night. 

And since then, current Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola has insisted that the gesture was not a favour to Derby boss Frank Lampard, and has nothing to do with his legendary status with the Premier League club. 

Speaking about the announcement, Zola told the assembled press: "I can tell you it’s not that (Lampard). It is because we believe in the end of the day is that Mason and Tomori, they grew up as players. We believe that by playing against us is an opportunity for them to grow up quicker. The more they play against Premier League teams the more experience they get."

He continued: "And we can make better evaluations on them. It was a great opportunity to see them play in front of us and we took the opportunity. It’s important to see the two players playing to give good indications for us. But in the future it does not mean we will keep doing that."

Zola also spoke about the recent comparison between current Chelsea mdifielder Ross Barkley and Derby manager Lampard. 

While admitting that Barkley is developing Lamard's goal scoring touch, Zola played down the comparisons for the time being, saying: " I thought Frank Lampard getting in the box was exceptional. The best midfielder I’ve ever seen having that quality of getting in the box in the right moment. That’s why he scored so many goals."

The Italian concluded: "At first it wasn’t showing it, because he was very much involved in learning tactically what the team needs him to do. Now he’s getting that freedom. Both of them have unbelievable potential."