Champions League draw: Chelsea have talent to be major force in Europe, warns Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard is convinced Chelsea can make a big impact on their return to the Champions League, despite not being able to buy players this summer.
Chelsea head into this Thursday’s draw in Monaco as one of the eight top seeds in pot one, courtesy of winning the Europa League in May.
Few are expecting the Blues to make much of an impression, having been banned by Fifa from registering new players for two transfer windows for breaching rules over the acquisition of foreign minors, as well as selling Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
But Lampard, who took over as manager in the summer, says his players are determined to prove what they can do on the biggest stage in club football.
The 41-year-old knows what it takes to lift the trophy, having won it with Chelsea in 2012, and he said: “I had some great nights in it, great moments and great memories. Talking about the players, they want to play in it and show what we are about.
“It’s a big challenge for us as a team. We know that, with the difficulties of the ban, and where we’re at. But it shouldn’t take away from the great challenge that it is to try to do well in the Champions League.
“It is nice that we are there. It means that we need to keep our League performances up now to be there next year [again] and tackle it head on.
“It is the greatest club competition in football and I was lucky enough to win it once. I’m looking forward to working in it as a manager. It’s important for us, it’s where we want to be. It gets tougher every year, coming third [in the Premier League] last season and winning the Europa League gets [the players] that status.”
Premier League teams have begun to reassert themselves as the strongest force in the competition. After five years without having a representative in the final, Liverpool have reached the showpiece in the past two seasons.
They lifted the trophy for the sixth time in May, beating Tottenham 2-0 in the second all-English final since the Champions League began in 1992.
Both teams are back again, as are Premier League champions Manchester City, who will be desperate to improve on their record of reaching just one semi-final in eight years.
Lampard believes teams from the other European leagues have cause to be concerned. “The Premier League is so strong and that is clear when you have two teams reach the final,” he said. “Manchester City are clearly absolutely a top team in world football.
“The English teams are strong at the moment and I hope that continues because I think that’s great for us in England and the Premier League.” copyright source
Chelsea head into this Thursday’s draw in Monaco as one of the eight top seeds in pot one, courtesy of winning the Europa League in May.
Few are expecting the Blues to make much of an impression, having been banned by Fifa from registering new players for two transfer windows for breaching rules over the acquisition of foreign minors, as well as selling Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
But Lampard, who took over as manager in the summer, says his players are determined to prove what they can do on the biggest stage in club football.
The 41-year-old knows what it takes to lift the trophy, having won it with Chelsea in 2012, and he said: “I had some great nights in it, great moments and great memories. Talking about the players, they want to play in it and show what we are about.
“It’s a big challenge for us as a team. We know that, with the difficulties of the ban, and where we’re at. But it shouldn’t take away from the great challenge that it is to try to do well in the Champions League.
“It is nice that we are there. It means that we need to keep our League performances up now to be there next year [again] and tackle it head on.
“It is the greatest club competition in football and I was lucky enough to win it once. I’m looking forward to working in it as a manager. It’s important for us, it’s where we want to be. It gets tougher every year, coming third [in the Premier League] last season and winning the Europa League gets [the players] that status.”
Premier League teams have begun to reassert themselves as the strongest force in the competition. After five years without having a representative in the final, Liverpool have reached the showpiece in the past two seasons.
They lifted the trophy for the sixth time in May, beating Tottenham 2-0 in the second all-English final since the Champions League began in 1992.
Both teams are back again, as are Premier League champions Manchester City, who will be desperate to improve on their record of reaching just one semi-final in eight years.
Lampard believes teams from the other European leagues have cause to be concerned. “The Premier League is so strong and that is clear when you have two teams reach the final,” he said. “Manchester City are clearly absolutely a top team in world football.
“The English teams are strong at the moment and I hope that continues because I think that’s great for us in England and the Premier League.” copyright source