Nigeria international midfielder Alex Iwobi can easily be said to be among the first name on the team sheet of Frank Lampard whenever he makes his lineup for games.
Iwobi has been named among the best midfielders in the English Premier League this season after been handed a permanent spot in the middle of the pitch by Frank Lampard. Iwobi has however revealed that he was close to leaving the club before the arrival of Frank Lampard.
He said the club suggest he heads out on loan and he was considering it before he later had a change of mind and decided to fight for a spot. A move which has paid off as he now has the full backing of Lampard, who he said gave him the freedom to express himself unlike his previous coaches.
“It felt like everyone wanted me to go,” Iwobi says. “They said, ‘If you want to play football, you would be better off on loan’, he explained.
“It was like, ‘You are not in our plans, try to prove yourself elsewhere’. I said I would rather take my chances and stay. I felt I had something to give and wanted to show my ability.
“The supporters were probably thinking, ‘We are better off getting someone who can do the job’. I was told in the past I wasn’t good enough. When I hear that it motivates me to try to prove my point.
“Previous managers told me to keep it simple, to play one-or-two touch and let those who were more creative, create the chances,” Iwobi tells i. “Now I have the licence to express myself and go forwards.”
