Frank Lampard’s blunt response as Chelsea legend defends iconic blues duo in William Saliba vs. Gabriel debate

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard was quick to dismiss any comparisons of Gabriel and William Saliba to iconic Blues duo John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.

Saliba and Gabriel formed one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and impressed again as they helped Arsenal keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

The duo’s success in Arsenal’s defense has inevitably led to comparisons with some of the Premier League’s most iconic centre-backs such as Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, Martin Keown and Tony Adams, as well as Terry and Carvalho.

However, Lampard does not believe that Saliba and Gabriel will come close to Chelsea’s strong defensive duo.

When asked during Amazon Prime’s pregame coverage of Arsenal vs PSG whether Saliba and Gabriel were comparable to Terry and Carvalho, Lampard replied: ‘No. Not yet.

Lampard felt that Gabriel and Saliba are not yet comparable to Chelsea icons Terry and Carvalho

The blues legend’s response drew much laughter from the Amazon Prime panel

Gabriel and Saliba have become one of the Premier League’s best centre-backs

‘If they win two or three Premier Leagues and a Champions League, maybe you can compare them.

‘I’m not putting them down. They are fantastic and constantly growing. It’s not fair to make that comparison because this is all still in front of them.

‘But not right now. But what they’re doing right now is great stuff.

“But yeah, if you win some stuff, guys, you can join that conversation.”

During their time together at Chelsea, Terry and Carvalho won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups.

The pair also formed the core of a Blues backline that scored just 15 goals in a full Premier League season in 2004-05.

In an interview on Chelsea’s official site in 2023, Carvalho talked about the almost telepathic rapport he had with Terry and how it came about.

“I spoke to him from the beginning and after we enjoyed ourselves; we had a very good relationship together and we got to know each other quickly,” Carvalho said.

Terry and Carvalho formed one of the most formidable centre-backs of all time

Lampard believed Saliba and Gabriel needed to win titles to enter the comparison conversation

During their time at Chelsea, Terry and Carvalho won three Premier League titles

‘Sometimes we didn’t even have to talk, it was just about looking at each other and I knew what he was going to do.

‘He knew I liked to cover, I knew he liked to fight for the first balls, so it was automatic. Those are the things you feel and they are difficult to explain in words.’

Terry and Carvalho’s partnership broke down in August 2010 when the Portugal international expressed his desire to join Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid.

As for Terry, he remained at Stamford Bridge until 2017, when he ended his 19-year stay at the club and moved to Aston Villa for a year before retiring in October 2018.