Chelsea right now are the favourites to sign Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona and according to his former Liverpool teammate Glen Johnson, Frank Lampard will be the key in this whole transfer decision.
Coutinho has been a real mess ever since he left Liverpool to join the La Liga side but Johnson believes Frank Lampard could provide the therapeutic factor which helps the Brazilian rediscover his form next season.
“Obviously you look on paper at his CV, at the clubs he’s been at, and it’s unbelievable,” Johnson told talkSPORT. “You don’t get to those clubs without an enormous amount of ability.
“He’s not reached the heights he’s capable of since he’s left Liverpool and it’s hard to put your finger on why. I know he’s a quiet guy, a very nice lad, but he’s got a bit of fight about him on the pitch, he won’t be pushed around.
“At Barca, you go there and there’s a superstar in every corner you look, and maybe he just blended in a little bit rather than being the key man. I just think he needs to be made to feel a bit special; he needs an arm around him, and I think he’d get that at Chelsea.
“I think he’s just a bit cautious when he meets new people and it takes him a bit of time to come out of his shell. That’s why I guess when he walks into a new dressing room it will take a bit of time for the lads to get to know him, but he’s a really nice lad.
“I think it would be great for him and his family to be in London and Lamps could be the man that puts his arm around him and makes him feel he is a key part of their plans, and I think that could force the best out of him.
“There is no doubt about it, the boy can play. He’s a proper footballer.
“He’s not the quickest lad and he’s clearly not the biggest lad, but his brain, his sharpness and speed of his football brain… he just picks that pass and he’s got that technique and perfect mobility in short spaces that opens up defences, and that’s something you can’t teach. And if Chelsea get the chance to sign him, they should be signing him. He’s unbelievable.”
Can Frank Lampard help Coutinho succeed at Chelsea?
Frank Lampard might be a relatively inexperienced manager but the former midfielder surely knows the tricks of the trade which needs to be applied at the highest level.
This season, Christian Pusilic is a perfect example of someone who seems to have benefitted from the guidance of his Chelsea boss.
Initially the American international was all over the place and everyone was certain that he would turn out to be another big money turkey in England. But Frank Lampard chose to stick with him and helped him regain his form as well as his confidence.
And we think Coutinho will also be able to benefit from this Midas touch of the Blues boss.
The playmaker is a proven superstar in England and now all he needs is some faith and time so that he can take some time to settle down at his new club and start working his magic once again.
