The conversation had moved on to Frank Lampard’s future and whether the dressing room had a view on it — and Petr Cech did his best to sound diplomatic by pointing out he was ‘not one of the directors’.
But by the time one of the most contentious issues in Chelsea’s recent past had been given a full airing, it was clear that if Cech did hold such high office, Lampard would be going nowhere.
It was almost as if the free-scoring midfielder’s team-mates were in denial, as, asked how they would cope without him, Cech refused to accept it was a ruling that could not be reversed.
Still got it: Frank Lampard is edging closer to being Chelsea's all time top scorer
‘I don’t know if he still has a chance of staying as I am not a director but, if he keeps playing like that, then obviously he will keep asking about the extension.
‘Is he worth a new deal? I don’t want to go into that. I am not a director. One day when I am the director you can ask me. Is he as good as ever? The team have changed, and so has his age, but he is still important. You can see that he might not start every game but, when he plays, he plays well with all his quality and experience.
‘I have known him a long time. He has been a fantastic player for the club. And, of course, he has stayed for years at the same club. Bad times, good times — mostly good times — but that shows the loyalty of the player.’
Lampard’s penalty capped an authoritative performance and took him beyond Kerry Dixon on Chelsea’s all-time scoring list, but it failed to elicit an acknowledgement from interim boss Rafa Benitez.
‘It’s not fair,’ he said in response to a question about Lampard’s enduring influence. ‘I think the rest of the team are doing a great job. Today, Ramires had little problems but he’s doing a fantastic job for the team, so I think we have to praise the rest of the players at the same time.’
Benitez was on a hiding to nothing the moment he took this job, given his anti-Chelsea stance at Liverpool, but he hardly helps himself.
Quiet day: Cech didn't have a lot to do as Chelsea smashed Stoke
‘No,’ he said. ‘It is a signal we have a good team and can manage every game in a different way. That, for me, is the most important thing.’
Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic was beaten by two close-range headers from team-mate Jonathan Walters, whose misery was complete in the last minute when he fired a penalty against the top of the bar and over.
Such a calamitous experience might normally take some living down but the Stoke striker was backed to score at the right end in Tuesday’s FA Cup replay against Crystal Palace.
‘I don’t think anybody will worry about Jon Walters,’ said Begovic. ‘He is a big enough character to bounce back. I can see him scoring o
