Frank Lampard admitted that Chelsea are still behind Ajax in terms of youth development.
“We’ve got a long way to go to claim the similarities,” Lampard said ahead of the Champions League tie in Amsterdam.
“It’s great we have a good feeling at the club, in terms of the young players that have come through. I think it’s long-deserved recognition for the academy itself and those players as well.
“But we are at a place here that is steeped in history of bringing young players through, creating great teams with groups of young players over the years.
“We have a long way to go to do that. But in the short term, I’m certainly happy and we need to continue working so that they continue their development, the young players.”
Lampard is against copying the Dutch outfit’s model and believes the Blues have a different approach. He added, “I am not privy to it, and I am sat here from afar so I wouldn’t want to go into too much detail.
“I think it is something that is not so smart, to copy a model from somewhere else in the world that looks like it has done from the outside.
“I think we can sort of constantly re-evaluate ourselves and see where we can improve. I am certainly happy that ex-players are here, but I don’t think that is the end. I think we have to keep pushing for results and performances on the pitch.”
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