Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas hints at playing Frank Lampard in a holding midfielder role this season

As well as getting himself on the score-sheet from the penalty spot in the win, Lampard starred in a holding midfield role, with Villas-Boas happy to see that the 33-year-old can adapt to that position if needed.

“Frank has the ability to play in that role and it is good that he feels so well in that position and gives us that flexibility,” he told reporters.

“I am glad we were able to test him this pre-season in this structure.

“Frank is one of the best players in the world and he has the flexibility to play in many positions: in a No.8 position, a No.10 position or a holding position.

“We have seen throughout his career that he has the ability so it is nothing new that we were trying today, and it does not mean that we are going to use it to the fullness.

“We are just happy to see that the players are able to play in various positions.”

Didier Drogba, Daniel Sturridge and an own goal from Ubay Santana saw Chelsea secure a widely expected comfortable win, but the new Chelsea boss still praised his side’s intensity.

“I don’t want to talk about an easy win because in the end there is always work and sweat and the players were magnificent, once again applying what we have been doing in training,” he told the club’s official website.

“Their capacity to absorb new ideas and exploit the talent within themselves is very good, and some of them are doing it away from their natural positions. It is good to see the players are enjoying their games.

“They kept the intensity very high from the beginning which is a good sign for us, and hopefully against the Premier League opposition that we play on Saturday we are able to have again this kind of performance.”

Chelsea now face fellow Premier League side Aston Villa in the Asia Trophy final, and Villas-Boas revealed that he is considering another change in formation to experiment with his side.

“We need these different kind of structures for the Premier League and it is not impossible that on Saturday we try another formation with two strikers maybe, but it is not because you put another striker in attack that you become more attacking. It comes down to the dynamic of the team.

“The players’ talent allows us to do this and it is also good for them to be challenged to play different ways.”