Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has selected four of Antonio Conte’s title-winners in a best XI made up of this season’s side and the club’s 2005 champions.
Lampard claimed three Premier League titles during a 13-year spell at Stamford Bridge, winning his first under Jose Mourinho in the 2004/05 season.
And alongside former England team-mate Owen Hargreaves, Lampard, who scored a club record 211 goals for Chelsea in all competitions, selected a best XI from the current squad and Mourinho’s first champions.
From this year’s crop, Player of the Year N’Golo Kante made the cut alongside Eden Hazard, while Cesar Azpilicueta is the freshest face in an ageing back line.
“I think he’s been brilliant in his seasons at Chelsea,” Lampard told the Premier League.
“He’s improving all the time, professional, can do that solid right-back job. He’s one of the best in the world.”
But perhaps the biggest surprise is Lampard’s decision to spearhead the side with Diego Costa, snubbing Didier Drogba, who scored 164 goals for the Blues, including nine in Cup finals.
“If you ask me for the best players in teams over a period of time, Didier Drogba’s in there every day of the week,” Lampard explained.
“The first year Chelsea were successful, but as years went by, Didier always produced. He improved he always produced in the big games.
“Costa has been fantastic this year, if we’re directly looking at that first year, Didier played some games, Eidur Gudjohnsen played some games, so for the consistency of this season, I’d go with Costa.”
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