Ross Barkley admits wrongdoing in off-field incidents after Frank Lampard outburst, says “I have made that mistake”

Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley says he learned “a big lesson” after he was criticised by Frank Lampard for his off-field behaviour.

Lampard, the Chelsea head coach, said Barkley was “naive” after he was caught out late in Liverpool, arguing with a taxi driver over spilled chips, just days before a Champions League game against Lille in October.

Asked if the incident had taught him a lesson, Barkley said: “Yes, a big lesson. You have got to be aware of your surroundings when you let you hair down for any player out there.

“You have just got to be aware of what’s around you. It is just more about being with the right company and in private.

“When you play in the Premier League, you are a high-profile player, so it is about keeping low-key and switched on. When you are on holiday or away you need the right people around you.

“I have made that mistake and it won’t happen again but I am sure it will happen to young players in the future. We all make mistakes but it is about being aware.

“Back in the day players wouldn’t have to think about things like that but you can’t forget people want to make you look bad. I am a very professional player but that 10 seconds doesn’t make you look professional.

“That’s just the way football is now with phones. You have to adapt to the way things are now.”

It is not the first time Lampard has publicly criticised Barkley this season.

The Chelsea boss accused the midfelder of “showing a lack of professionalism” after he was pictured shirtless in a Dubai nightclub during an international break, report SkySports.

“Everyone makes mistakes,” he said. “When you make mistakes, you have got to learn from them. I am 26 now and I understand when you make a mistake, learn from them and move on. He was really supportive.

“Lampard was one of the best players in the world and I am sure when he was a player he liked to let his hair down at the right times.

“He fully understands in his day that there was none of that. It is more that people want to make you look bad, but it is in my hands and other players hands to not be in that position.”

Photo Credit: Twitter @chelseafc

Chelsea U23s beat Tottenham U23s to extend unbeaten start to Premier League 2 season (Match Report)

Armando Broja’s goal was all Chelsea development squad needed to defeat Tottenham in another London derby triumph for the Stamford Bridge side.

Tariq Lamptey was rested after his senior team involvement on Sunday afternoon, while Billy Gilmour was unable to shake off a sickness bug in time to travel and Jon Russell took place on the bench.

Chelsea always looked a threat despite Tottenham’s bright start and in a chance similar to the hosts’ first, Uwakwe hit just wide of the target inside the first quarter of an hour.

The 30-minute mark had seen a complete change in momentum and Chelsea controlled possession in the final third, restricting Spurs to rare counter-attacks. It was a much better period for the Blues.

The second half followed a similar pattern of play to the first, where evenly shared possession meant the midfield battle was key and fierce after 72 minutes of action. Clinton Mola and McEachran in particular saw a lot of the ball inside the Spurs half.

Having been unbothered for large spells of the game, Cumming did well to stay alert and catch a powerful attempt from Dilan Markanday. He was called into action again moments later but this time Oakley-Boothe’s strike from range thankfully bounced wide of the target.

It seemed there was an immediate difference as Broja broke the deadlock on 82 minutes. The forward started the move in the final third and continued his run into the box, a precise ball from Russell found the 18-year-old who was ruthless in hitting the roof of the net for the opener.

Tariq Uwakwe and Marc Guehi had both earlier been denied in the first half of a game which always looked as though it only needed the one goal to settle it.

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jamie Cumming; Henry Lawrence, Jack Wakely, Marc Guehi, Ian Maatsen; George McEachran, Clinton Mola; Armando Broja, Thierno Ballo (Jon Russell ht), Tariq Uwakwe (Lewis Bate 79); Charlie Brown (Xavier Simons 90)
Unused subs Karlo Ziger, Dynel Simeu
Booked Russell 56
Scorer Broja 82

Tottenham: Brandon Austin, Jubril Okedina (Rayan Clarke 88), Tariq Hinds, Elliot Thorpe (Pheonix Patterson 70), Timothy Eyoma (c), Brooklyn Lyons-Foster, Dilan Markanday, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Rodel Richards, Armando Shashoua, Shilow Tracey
Unused subs Josh Oluwayemi, Rayan Clarke, Jonathan Dinzeyi, Maurizio Pochettino-Grippaldi
Booked Thorpe 11, Markanday 61, Oakley-Boothe 68

Photo Credit: Twitter @chelseafc.com

Lukaku’s brace helps Inter Milan defeat Napoli on road for the first time in almost 23 years (Match Report)

Romelu Lukaku’s powerful brace and a Lautaro Martinez tap-in allowed Inter to beat Napoli 3-1, their first Serie A win here since 1997.

It was a lightning start, with chances at both ends in the opening three minutes. First Arkadiusz Milik snuck between defenders to nod Lorenzo Insigne’s cross over the bar, then Romelu Lukaku had his attempt cleared off the line, but had wandered offside.

It was end to end stuff, as Lukaku ran on to Roberto Gagliardini’s through ball and turned Di Lorenzo, only to fire straight at Alex Meret. Moments later, Napoli wasted a three-against-three situation with Insigne’s heavy first touch, then the captain again made the wrong choice by drilling wide on a Fabian Ruiz pass.

Inter broke through with a great Lukaku goal, starting the run from inside his own half. The Belgian intercepted a pass after Di Lorenzo slipped, sprinted forward and drilled in off the inside of the far post, as Lautaro’s run had drawn Kostas Manolas away.

Lukaku had a penalty appeal soon after, going down under a minor Di Lorenzo shirt tug, but contact started outside the box anyway. Milik also had the ball in the net only after Jose Callejon was penalised for a foul on Cristiano Biraghi.

Alex Meret was called into two tough saves by Matias Vecino’s glancing header on a corner and Lautaro Martinez from a tight angle.

However, Meret was at fault for the second goal, as he completely misjudged Lukaku’s powerful left-foot strike at the near post, it bounced off his hands and between his legs into the net. The ball was travelling at 111km/h.

Napoli fought back after that painful one-two, as Insigne’s solo effort was somehow kept out from under the bar by Samir Handanovic with one strong hand, the ball ricocheting kindly for the goalkeeper to recover.

Moments later, the Partenopei did get a goal back. It was a long Zielinski ball to the back post, where Callejon volleyed it back from the by-line for Milik to turn in from close range. Cristiano Biraghi should’ve tried to intercept the pass rather than call for offside.

Milik had the chance to make it 2-2 on the stroke of half-time, but misjudged Mario Rui’s cross and turned a free header on to his own shoulder.

The momentum was still with Napoli after the restart, Insigne’s angled drive skimming the far post, then Stefan de Vrij with a decisive full-stretch interception as Insigne was sending Callejon clear.

Just as Inter were under the most pressure, they extended their lead. Matias Vecino’s cross had gone beyond Lautaro Martinez, but in his attempt to intercept, Manolas effectively knocked it back for the Argentine to turn in from six yards.

This means between them, Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez have scored 30 goals for Inter in all competition this season.

Insigne came close to getting Napoli back into it again on 75 minutes, his free kick bouncing off the top of the bar with Handanovic stranded. Zielinski then hit a weak effort straight at the goalkeeper when sent through by the captain, but considerably better in the final minutes, as the Pole forced a tough one-handed save out of Handanovic.

Lautaro Martinez almost made it 4-1 in stoppages, going round Meret only for a desperate last-ditch Di Lorenzo tackle.

Barella and Milan Skriniar were booked, so will be suspended against Atalanta next week.

Photo Credit: Twitter @inter_en/@en_sscnapoli