Lampard: Chelsea youngster Gilmour possesses a skill that is being “lost” in the modern game
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has praised Billy Gilmour for performing the basics of the game correctly, which is a skill he feels is becoming a lost art in modern football.
The 18-year-old Scottish midfielder is enjoying a breakout campaign at Stamford Bridge and recently earned praise from legendary Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
The rise of Gilmour: Five key things to know…
- Billy Gilmour joined Chelsea‘s youth academy from Rangers in July 2017.
- He made his senior debut in a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United last August.
- Gilmour to date has made seven appearances in all competitions for the Blues.
- He made headlines in March following a Man of the Match performance against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
- Frank Lampard has subsequently praised his progress – and expects more strides to be made when football returns.
Gilmour, a graduate of Chelsea’s esteemed academy, made his senior debut against Sheffield United last August courtesy of a late six-minute cameo.
He made his first start under Lampard the following month in their EFL Cup win over Grimsby Town, but the Scot remained a squad player until March.
Before football was postponed, Gilmour completed the full 90 minutes in the Blues‘ last two outings including i an impressive 2-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool.
His eye-catching performance against Jurgen Klopp’s side saw him earn the Man of the Match award and led to him featuring in the Blues’ commanding win over Everton.
Lampard, an accomplished midfielder in his own right, has clarified what all the fuss is all about regarding Gilmour and feels what makes him special comes down to keeping it simple.
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“When you look at Billy he’s quite slight in terms of his size, he’s young, he’s quiet, he’s polite, but Billy moved over to the first team building a while ago because he had to. He trained at such a level,” he said.
“If you have possession in training or a game or a simple passing drill, you’re talking about attitude and doing the basics right. In the modern day it can get lost a little bit. Can you do the real basics right? Billy does them day in, day out.
“Some people think I threw him in against Liverpool but he probably deserved to play a little bit earlier in how he was training. That was me being a bit conservative with him.
“I don’t want it to sound like he’s not a talented player, but I think sometimes the basics of receiving the ball, turning it around the corner, joining up, and making all the right decisions in a game are not easy. The simple things are actually sometimes the hardest, and Billy has those.
“He’s set a benchmark, he’s now got to come back after this break and go on and have the career he’s started to show he can have. I am pretty sure he will because of his attitude, his family, his surroundings are really good, and he has the talent.”