MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 23:36:50| >> :60:2928:2928:
[monks data]
Attendance: 36,761
Chelsea logo
Champions League | Round of 16
Feb 25, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
Bayern logo

0-3

FT(HT: 0-0)
Gnabry (51', 54'), Lewandowski (76')

Frank Lampard vows to "trust" young players against Bayern Munich

Frank Lampard vows to
© Reuters
The Blues boss was a Champions League winner in 2012 when Chelsea edged the German giants on penalties.

Frank Lampard has urged Chelsea to embrace the underdog spirit and subdue Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues head coach accepts many have installed Bayern as firm favourites for Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg tie in west London.

But the former England midfielder still holds faith in his young charges, even despite Bayern's strong form and their 7-2 demolition of Tottenham in London in October.

"I think the underdog talk for a game like this is better to come from outside, from people looking out to in," Lampard said.

Soccer – UEFA Champions League – Final – Bayern Munich v Chelsea – Allianz Arena
Frank Lampard has happy Champions League memories against Bayern (Owen Humphreys/PA)

"My job is just to prepare the game, look at the opponent and see if we can find weaknesses there. I understand if people do call us the underdog because their team is so strong and they have so much experience.

"But these things change. The underdog is there to change things around. We all love an underdog story and they are some of the best stories in sport."

Lampard won the Champions League when Chelsea edged out Bayern on penalties in 2012, and knows just how tough it is to take on the German giants.

The 41-year-old will address his squad specifically about the hike in pressure and quality that comes with top-level knockout football in European competition.

Chelsea Training Session and Press Conference
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be in Chelsea's squad against Bayern (Adam Davy/PA)

"I've got no doubts about starting any of the young players, I trust in all the players who have been part of the squad this year," Lampard said.

"They've earned trust in the way they've played. It changes slightly when it gets to the knockout stages and I'll speak to all the players about what that means."

Chelsea will be without injured trio Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi and N'Golo Kante on Tuesday, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be in the match squad.

Loftus-Cheek was an unused replacement in Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win over Spurs for his first involvement of the campaign, and is accelerating his recovery after a long-term Achilles injury.

"We've got players with Champions League experience in the squad but we've also got young players at the first stages of their careers," Lampard said.

"A big part of my job (on Tuesday) is to explain to the players that over two legs we need to be at our maximum. We need every detail, every box ticked in both games.

"Bayern Munich are an incredible side with the ball. If we have to suffer without the ball, we have to suffer, so that's our job over these next two games.

"Bayern are for sure a team that can win the title, when you go through their team and look at the talent and unity within it."

ID:390800: cacheID:390800:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6890:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard applauds on January 11, 2020
Read Next:
Frank Lampard admits Chelsea are seen as underdogs in Bayern Munich tie
>
Read more about Frank Lampard Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!