Conor Gallagher and Billy Gilmour were both 'close' to breaking through into Chelsea's first team before being sent out on loan, according to Petr Cech.
The former Blues goalkeeper is now back at Stamford Bridge behind the scenes and has detailed the impression Gallagher and Gilmour left on boss Thomas Tuchel.
Gallagher hasn't yet made a first-team appearance with Chelsea while Gilmour managed to get some minutes last season under both Lampard and Tuchel.
Conor Gallagher (left) and Billy Gilmour (right) both left Chelsea on loan in the summer
But Cech accepts that while they could have won a role this season at Chelsea, the decision was made that they will return a 'much better' player after a year of regular first-team football.