Written by: euronews with ap
Chelsea won their first title in the Champions League, achieving a resounding surprise at the time, when they beat Barcelona, led by Argentine star Lionel Messi, in the semi-finals, before defeating Bayern Munich in their own home in the final match, on penalties.
Chelsea coach Frank Lampard appealed to his players to put their disappointing performances in the English Premier League behind them and follow in the footsteps of the amazing journey of the Blues in 2012, which witnessed their coronation in the Champions League, on the eve of his team’s confrontation with Spanish giants Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the continental competition, Wednesday, at the Santiago Bernabeu. .
Chelsea won their first title in the Champions League, achieving a resounding surprise at the time, when they beat Barcelona, led by Argentine star Lionel Messi, in the semi-finals, before defeating Bayern Munich in their own home in the final match, on penalties.
The scenario at the time was similar to Chelsea’s situation at the present time, as it was occupying a late position in the local league, so the club’s management dismissed Portuguese coach Andre Villas-Boas and appointed Italian Roberto Di Matteo, the former Chelsea player, as coach in March 2012.
Chelsea had played the first leg in the final price against Napoli, Italy, under the supervision of Boas, and lost it 1-3, before turning things in his favor under the supervision of his new coach, back in the English capital.
Lampard, who was part of the European crowned team in 2012, took over the training of the London club after the dismissal of Graham Potter, which is the second time that he supervises his training, knowing that he is considered one of his legends after the tours and successes he achieved while he was a player in its ranks.
Chelsea ranks eleventh in the English Premier League after a disappointing season that witnessed the dismissal of German coach Thomas Tuchel last September before Potter was appointed to replace him, but he did not stay in office for more than seven months to suffer the same fate.
Although the current level of Chelsea does not herald his ability to achieve a resounding surprise against Real Madrid, the 14-time champion in the continental competition (a record), Lampard considered that everything is possible if his players show the desire to achieve this, recalling the team’s achievement 11 years ago by saying In the press conference devoted to facing Real Madrid, “we had at that time a great desire and a strong personality among the group of talented players who had been hungry for years to win the Champions League.”
He added, “Any group of players must go through a difficult period in order to reach glory.”
Chelsea did not win in the last four matches and lost its first official match after Lampard was appointed last week against Wolverhampton 0-1 in the league.
Sterling the savior?
And Lampard made his first official match after his appointment to involve fast striker Raheem Sterling mainly, and he relies on him mainly against Real Madrid to increase the effectiveness of the sterile offensive line.
Sterling has suffered a lot with the Blues since his move from Manchester City last year.
Sterling scored only seven goals this season in various competitions, including the decisive goal to qualify his team to the quarter-finals against Borussia Dortmund.
And Lampard believes that Sterling can still make a positive impact on Chelsea, saying, “Raheem has experience in this type of match. He is one of the best wingers in the world for a long time.”
He added, “He has raised his level in such matches in the past, so it is clear that we will depend on him in this regard because some elements of the team may be younger and less experienced than him.”
“This game won’t scare him. I remember how many times I told the young wings, ‘Watch why Raheem Sterling scores 20 goals a season’. I think he’s a great player.”
