Lampard bedside vigil as his mother becomes critically ill

zocoss

24 Apr 08, 13:05

Chelsea's Lampard holds bedside vigil as his mother becomes critically ill

Hours after helping Chelsea to a draw at Liverpool, Frank Lampard was back at the bedside of his mother Pat, yesterday as her health suddenly worsened. Pat was admitted to hospital 10 days ago when she was diagnosed to be suffering from pneumonia, but her condition had appeared to improve in recent days.

Last night a spokesman for Lampard said she was "critically ill". Lampard, who missed last week's games against Wigan and Everton to be with her, felt positive enough to return to training on Sunday and then declared himself available for Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first-leg at Anfield.

A goalless draw or any sort of win against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge next Wednesday will be enough to reach the final in Moscow on May 21 against either Manchester United or Barcelona.

He is not expected at training today and it is highly unlikely that he will be involved on Saturday. Chelsea have granted him further compassionate leave and he thanked for their help with the situation after the draw at Anfield. His inclusion in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final is also in doubt.

Lampard would not have travelled to Merseyside had 58-year-old Pat's condition not shown the signs of improvement it did last weekend. She was stable but, when he emerged from the dressing room after the game, his excitement at such a good result was still coloured by concern.

Lampard spoke with typical candour about the toughest week of his life and admitted his mum would not have wanted him to miss such an important game on her behalf. "She follows me up and down the country so, knowing her, she would've had a right go at me for not playing this game," he said. "So that was in the back of my mind."

Sadly, the mood changed yesterday when Pat's condition deteriorated. Lampard has previously spoken of how close he is to his mother and called himself a "real mummy's boy". He said: "We're very similar. Quite sensitive, quite shy. Mum's been the one who shaped me as a person — how to treat people, manners, that kind of thing. "She's brilliant and was always there for me and my two sisters, whatever we wanted to do."

Manager Avram Grant will exert no pressure on Lampard to return and help the team through two vital games. In selection terms, the Chelsea boss has Michael Essien back as a straightforward replacement for Lampard after he missed the draw at Anfield through suspension. Essien was outstanding in midfield against both Wigan and Everton last week, when Lampard was absent.

Ideally, Grant may like to give some players a breather before next week's semi-final but the game against United is so big that his flexibility will be limited.

gunner77

24 Apr 08, 15:05

hope his mum get well soon

sebosebo

24 Apr 08, 15:29

get well soon Frank's mom............................and then pass the pneumonia to Frank please.

stellazio

24 Apr 08, 18:11