Scolari says Lampard to stay at Chelsea

By Clare Lovell

COBHAM (Reuters) - New Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said on Tuesday that Frank Lampard would remain at the club for this season and beyond, underlining their refusal to consider any offers for the midfielder.

Speaking at his first news conference since taking charge, Scolari said he had received assurances that Lampard was still committed to the club, adding that Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, was "200 percent" in his plans for the new season.

Lampard and Drogba have been the subject of intense speculation that they would move to Italy to link up with former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho, who has taken over at Inter Milan.

"I think Chelsea needs Lampard and Lampard needs Chelsea," the former Brazil and Portugal coach told a packed news conference at a hotel near the Premier League's club's training ground outside London.

"I met Frank Lampard yesterday and I told him that I liked him very much as a player and as a person.

"I asked him if he wanted to stay in Chelsea not only next year but longer and after 15 minutes he said to me he wanted to stay and he wanted to be a player for Chelsea (for) more years.

"There are a minimum of questions still to be asked and then I think Lampard is with us (for) more time than one year."

On Drogba, Scolari said that at the first training session on Monday "I saw him happy and happy to start training." Asked if the big striker was part of his plans, the Brazilian world cup winner said: "100 percent, 200 percent."