Willian names Frank Lampard as his best Chelsea manager after Mourinho
Former Chelsea winger Willian told The Obi One podcast that Frank Lampard was the best manager he played under at Stamford Bridge after Jose Mourinho, saying Lampard gave him the freedom to express himself on the pitch. Willian, who joined Chelsea in 2013 under Mourinho, also worked with Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri and Lampard during his seven‑year stay, scoring 63 goals and providing 58 assists in 339 appearances before moving to Arsenal in 2020.
The comment matters because it highlights how a manager’s approach can shape a player’s output—a point many Nigerian EPL fans watch closely when assessing their favourite clubs’ coaching appointments. Lampard’s tenure, though mixed in results, is remembered by Willian for the creative licence he afforded senior players.
If you follow Chelsea or the EPL, think about which managerial qualities—tactical discipline, man‑management, or freedom to improvise—you value most in shaping team success, and how those traits might affect the performances of Nigerian‑eligible players abroad.