MX23RW : Thursday, May 2 21:45:24| >> :120:4251:4251:
[monks data]
Attendance: 40,016
Chelsea logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Dec 10, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Lille

2-1

Abraham (19'), Azpilicueta (35')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Remy (78')

Frank Lampard challenges Chelsea players to show "personality"

Frank Lampard challenges Chelsea players to show
© Reuters
The Blues have won just one of their last five matches.

Frank Lampard has challenged his Chelsea players to show tougher "personality" to fight for their Stamford Bridge futures.

Lampard has insisted Chelsea's run of just one win in five matches has not changed his January recruitment plans now the club's transfer ban has been lifted.

But the Blues boss lamented a lack of steel in Saturday's 3-1 Premier League loss at Everton – and called on his players to hit back in Tuesday's crucial Champions League clash with Lille at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea were well beaten at Everton on Saturday
Chelsea were well beaten at Everton on Saturday (Nigel French/PA)

Asked if the last few weeks had altered his thinking ahead of the transfer window, Lampard said: "That's always pretty fluid, so I haven't got anything exactly to say 'I need this, this, this'.

"I wouldn't say my mind is set on anything to be changed. But you do learn from your players in tough times, not just in terms of what they do on the pitch but how their personality is.

"That was the disappointing thing at Everton, it wasn't just that we were slightly off – I didn't like that there were individual contact moments across the game that we lost. Because that's a personality thing as much as anything else."

Chelsea's two-window FIFA transfer ban was lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week.

A left-back, a second striker and a midfielder will be on the list should Chelsea decide to dip into the market in January, but Lampard continues to demand more from his current crop.

Chelsea must beat Lille at home on Tuesday to ensure safe passage to the Champions League knockout stages.

Antonio Rudiger is fit for just his second appearance of the season following groin trouble, with the Germany centre-back likely to step into the Blues' defence.

Lampard believes Rudiger can make an instant impact, with the 26-year-old having undergone a mini pre-season after shaking off his groin complaint.

Antonio Rudiger, left, is ready to return
Antonio Rudiger, left, is ready to return (John Walton/PA)

Rudiger's return will prove timely, especially with Fikayo Tomori missing out due to a minor hip issue.

"He's a good defender, it's good to have him back and he's training really well," said Lampard.

"He has got a lot of his fitness work done since the injury's healed.

"People maybe overlooked the fact that we were missing a number of big players at the start of the season. Rudi is just back, so let's see what he can add to us now."

Lampard admitted Chelsea's recent sticky form hands him his first big challenge as Blues boss, and wants his players to embrace the pressure of Tuesday's must-win Lille clash.

"It was always going to come," said Lampard.

"The way we are, the nature of the Premier League, this was never going to be a plain-sailing, invincible season from our point of view. Teams need this test.

"Big games like this, they are crucial for the players. You can be defined as an individual and a group by success.

"I was fortunate to have big nights like this as a player, and they are the ones that stick in your mind.

"So these are big opportunities now for the team – particularly the young boys when it's quite new to them – to make a mark.

"So I think it's good. I like the pressure of this game being knockout.

"If we're going to do anything good here, we're going to have to have lots of these nights."

ID:382305: cacheID:382305:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:15739:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Lionel Messi celebrates scoring for Barcelona on December 7, 2019
Read Next:
Tuesday's Champions League predictions including Inter Milan vs. Barcelona
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053


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!