Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez has questioned the meaning of Petr Cech’s comments regarding Frank Lampard’s Premier League future, according to Sky Sports.

Last week Cech noted that with a relatively short space of time until the end of the season, the player’s departure is still an ambiguous topic of discussion: “We will see whether he stays or not,” said the goalkeeper.

Benitez on the other hand seemed to suggest that six months could be the end of Lampard’s Stamford Bridge career, making no allusion to a new deal.

"We know Frank is doing well in training and is playing well. Everyone can see he is doing well and the rest of the team is doing well at the same time," Benitez said.

"Maybe that was what Petr was trying to say - Frank can play at a good level and hopefully he can continue until the end of the season.

"I have to bring the best out of him and I'd be delighted if he scores 15 goals from now until the end of the season. I have to keep him fit."

Meanwhile, the Blues entertain the visit of Southampton at the Bridge, needing to improve on an unsatisfactory run of form at home with recent defeats to QPR and Swansea.

“We are doing well away but at home other teams play deep and wait and there's less space," Benitez continued.

"We are still creating chances but the main thing is to be more clinical. If we take our chances it will be totally different because the teams we play will be more open and we will have the space we're looking for."

"But if that's not the case, as in the last two games, it is more difficult. The last two games were more difficult because they had 11 players behind the ball and we have to find a way to overcome that."

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