Lampard Criticises Lack of Professionalism from Barkley

Midfielder Ross Barkley is once again in the soup after being caught without his shirts in a nightclub just a before a Chelsea game. This has infuriated manager Frank Lampard, who has claimed that the player has shown a lack of professionalism. The midfielder has already been caught in the headlines after being involved in a fight with a taxi driver a few months ago. Barkley is currently unavailable for selection after picking up an ankle injury recently. The midfielder has paid the price for his misdemeanour after Lampard left him out of the squad for the Champions League game against Valencia.

Lampard, though, has confirmed that he will continue to back the player if he returns as a proper professional.Barkley has gone through various issues throughout his career as he has failed to transform the talent into potential on numerous occasions. Yet, Chelsea took a major punt on him when the club signed him for around £15 million just under two years ago. So far, he has repaid this fate on certain occasions and his best campaign with the club was last season when he scored five goals in 48 games for the team.

Barkley will soon be 26 years and at the peak of his career. He has to make most of his time with the blues and become a great midfielder like Lampard."There are two separate issues; one is the headlines this week. Ross knows how I felt about the first headline. I backed him then and I still back him now. But he showed a lack of professionalism as far as I'm concerned.It's not something that I want to come down hard on, because I understand all my players are humans and have lives. I don't police every moment of their lives. So I don't think it's a terrible thing that he's done,” said Lampard.