Thierry Henry backs £15m man Ross Barkley to emulate club legend Frank Lampard at Chelsea: 'I think he has the quality to do that... Antonio Conte will teach him how to reach another level'

  • Thierry Henry is confident Ross Barkley can emulate Frank Lampard at Chelsea
  • The former Arsenal forward believes Barkley has the quality to reach that level 
  • Lampard is the club's all-time top goalscorer and has won every domestic trophy
  • But Henry said Barkley can develop into a great player under boss Antonio Conte

Thierry Henry has backed Chelsea's £15million January signing Ross Barkley to emulate club legend Frank Lampard.

Barkley moved to Stamford Bridge for a cut-price fee this month from his boyhood club Everton after spending 13 years at Goodison Park.

His move has divided opinion but former Arsenal striker Henry is confident Barkley well be a success.

Thierry Henry has backed £15million man Ross Barkley to be a success at Chelsea

Thierry Henry has backed £15million man Ross Barkley to be a success at Chelsea

The midfielder moved to Stamford Bridge earlier this month from his boyhood club Everton

The midfielder moved to Stamford Bridge earlier this month from his boyhood club Everton

Henry even went on to claim the England midfielder has the tools to replicate what Lampard achieved at Stamford Bridge. 


Lampard is the club's all-time top scorer on 211 goals, is fourth on the list for most appearances and won every trophy available at domestic level with Chelsea – three Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and two League Cups.

Lampard also won the Champions League and Europa League and recorded 20 or more goals in each season from 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Henry, now a Sky Sports pundit, has envisioned the same path for Barkley and believes he will benefit from having less pressure on his shoulders. 

Henry even believes Barkley has the quality to emulate Chelsea legend Frank Lampard

Henry even believes Barkley has the quality to emulate Chelsea legend Frank Lampard

Lampard is the club's all-time top scorer, won every domestic cup and the Champions League

Lampard is the club's all-time top scorer, won every domestic cup and the Champions League

'At Chelsea he is not going to be the man,' he told Sky Sports.

'He took the number of a Chelsea legend in Frank Lampard, so that is a good start. But can he do what he did? I think he has the quality to do that.'

The ex-France international also believes Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will get the best out of him. 

'I think with a good coach to teach him he will reach another level. If there is a coach to make Barkley better it is Antonio Conte. He did it with Marcos Alonso, he did it with Victor Moses.

'He will find a solution for him whatever solution. I am backing Barkley to do well and I repeat that coach (Conte) will find him the right position.'

Henry said Barkley can reach that level under the guidance of manager Antonio Conte

Henry said Barkley can reach that level under the guidance of manager Antonio Conte

Sky Sports pundit and Sportsmail columnist Jamie Redknapp echoed Henry's notions. 'I think Barkley is a really, really talented player,' he said in the build-up to Chelsea's Premier League clash with Brighton.

'He can do special things with a football. It didn't quite work out for him at times at Everton but I think the weight of expectation was so heavy for him and I sometimes think that affected him.

'Whereas going to Chelsea now the pressure won't quite be the same, the expectation of being the local boy is going to be different for him.

'I think he can be a revelation there, I do. I think he has got tremendous talent and he's just got to believe in himself.'

The former Arsenal forward claimed if one manager can make Barkley better it is Conte

The former Arsenal forward claimed if one manager can make Barkley better it is Conte

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