Frank Lampard has attempted to rouse his players before they face Real Madrid by telling them that Chelsea’s shock Champions League triumph in 2012 came at the end of his worst season at the club.
Lampard has repeatedly batted away questions linking his new temporary role with Roberto Di Matteo taking over as caretaker manager 11 years ago and helping Chelsea to defy the odds by becoming European champions for the first time in their history.
However, the midfielder Enzo Fernández has revealed that the club’s interim head coach made sure to reference his playing career during a speech with his new squad.
Lampard, who faces a challenge to revive Chelsea following last week’s dismissal of Graham Potter, did not get on with André Villas-Boas before the Portuguese coach was replaced by Di Matteo midway through the 2011-12 season. “Frank talked with the group a bit and he told us to keep our heads straight,” Fernández said. “Chelsea is a club with a huge history.