“There are good young pros and lads out there, but nowadays it’s made too easy for them, much too easy,” he said.
“It’s hard for me because we’re all lucky to be where we are, leading nice lifestyles. But that lifestyle is coming earlier and earlier. The lads are forgetting the hard work that needs to be done to earn that lifestyle.”
And the 30-year-old even advocates a return to the days of younger players cleaning their team-mates’ boots to earn respect, instead of having it given to them on a plate.
“I’m not digging out everyone because there are some who are great lads. But players don’t clean boots any more and I’m a big advocate of that," he said.
"Me and John Terry always complain that they should be cleaning boots. It was a great learning curve for us. I used to get told off by Julian Dicks at West Ham and have his boots thrown back at me.”
Lampard fears the current set-up kills the drive for younger players to perform for their country. “Not enough of them have the dedication,” he said. “It’s something I feel very strongly about.”
NEWS: Di Canio: Young players today lack drive
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