Chelsea's forgotten man Florent Malouda is far from happy with the way his situation has been handled by the Stamford Bridge club, while Frank Lampard attributed his splendid current form to the amount of opportunities he has received over the past couple of months.
Malouda has been frozen out by Chelsea this season, with the midfielder training with the Blues junior squad.
The French international failed to secure a move away from the club in the summer, and has so far not found a way out in the winter window as well.
Malouda has been linked with a move to Russia team Anzhi Makhachkala, and the move is still possible, with the Russian transfer window only set to shut towards the end of this month.
However, the 32-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, hit out at the way he has been treated.
"The details I'll explain when I'm free, but the strategy they use is to make me look like a player seeking substantial compensation," Malouda told France-Guyane.
"It's petty but more than anything else it makes me smile because it shows how these people regard me.
"If you are excluded for one year, it is very, very long. You must be armed mentally.
"All this is done to break me mentally, but in reality it motivates me enormously."
Meanwhile, Lampard is happy to keep banging in the goals for Chelsea, as speculation continues over his future.
There have been reports suggesting Roman Abramovich could be ready to offer the midfielder a new contracts, bowing to fan pressure and rewarding his form, but Lampard is just happy to prove himself on the pitch.
The 34-year-old is now just four goals adrift of the club's all-time leading scorer Bobby Tambling's record of 202, and has netted an impressive nine goals in his last 14 games.
"It's not rocket science: the more you play you get sharper and you get match fit," Lampard told the club's official website.
"Since I've been able to play regularly I feel like I've got sharpness and the confidence.
"I'm 34, you still need confidence of playing regular games.
"It certainly helps me, to get flow in your game; you ask any player that, I'm not on my own there.
"When you're playing regularly and you do start playing well, scoring goals, whatever position you're in, it's enjoyable to keep playing and it helps.
"You have to have an eye on the squad -- it is a long season -- so I'm not expecting, or asking, to play every single game.
"(But) it seems to me recently I've been able to play every three or four days, I've enjoyed it."
