Frank Lampard: ‘Chelsea must show more belief in Real Madrid second leg’
Frank Lampard has called on his Chelsea players to produce a special second leg at Stamford Bridge after losing 2-0 to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
The Premier League outfit made the trip to the Bernabeu having failed to score in three successive matches, a streak that was prolonged as they fell to defeat in Spain.
Karim Benzema reacted fastest to put the defending champions in front from close range in the first half, before Marco Asensio ruthlessly swept home from the edge of the area to double Real’s advantage in the second half.
Before that Asensio goal, Chelsea had been reduced to 10 men after Ben Chilwell was sent off for cynically tugging the shirt of Rodrygo when last man and the Brazilian was about to get a shot on goal.
Nevertheless, Chelsea had their chances at the home of the La Liga side, most notably in the second minute when Joao Felix failed to convert after being played through on goal and Mason Mount seeing a goalbound effort superbly blocked by Antonio Rudiger deep into added-on time.
While Los Blancos were deserved victors on the night, there was other aspects of Chelsea’s play which was encouraging, yet Lampard acknowledged that there was a lack of belief in the team.
Speaking to BT Sport, the caretaker boss said: “I’m proud of the 10 men. The disappointing thing is we give away a set-piece and switch off. I don’t think they carved us open at 10 men. That was due to spirit. We had our chances – Joao Felix, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount.
“Some good things but the result is the reality. Special things can happen at Stamford Bridge. We have to believe. There is a lot there for us, as good a team as they are. There’s a bit of a lack of belief. The players don’t know how good they are.
“There are some details and mindset stuff, we have to be more positive. If we do that, I’ve been involved in those nights at Stamford Bridge. We keep going.”
As well as Chilwell being suspended for the second leg, Kalidou Koulibaly is also likely to miss out due to suffering a hamstring injury in the second half.
Before the reverse fixture, Chelsea play host to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon in what is a must-win for the 11th-placed West Londoners.
