FRANK LAMPARD urged Chelsea’s players to find the spirit of 2012 in a pep talk ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at Real Madrid.
Caretaker boss Lampard staged a meeting where he told the squad of the Blues’ unlikely win in the final over Bayern Munich under interim manager Roberto Di Matteo.
Enzo Fernandez says Frank Lampard stirred up Chelsea players by explaining how his own worst season turned round after an interim boss came in
Caretaker-manager Lampard recalled Champions League glory 11 years ago as Chelsea prepare for a daunting last-eight tie against holders Real
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez said: “Frank talked with the group a bit and he told us to keep our heads straight.
“Chelsea is a club with a huge history. He told us he won the Champions League in 2012 and he mentioned that it had been his worst season at Chelsea. It is a great example for us.”
Lampard, preparing for his second game in charge since his Blues return, skippered the team in the 2012 final — but had suffered a nightmare season until Andre Villas-Boas was sacked as boss in March.
And Fernandez continued: “Chelsea is a very big club with a lot of history, big players.
“We trust in what we are going to do.
“But we are not afraid. Of course there is respect because we know the quality Real have and the forwards they have.
“But we will try to counteract them.”
Lampard has a full squad to choose from and N’Golo Kante will return after being rested in Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Wolves.
Looking at the club’s poor Prem form, it is hardly a surprise that few give Chelsea a chance against the reigning European champions.
But Lampard said: “The only thing the players can do is prove it on the pitch.”
