Lampard cites unlikely 2012 triumph to inspire Chelsea for Real Madrid meeting

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. He told us he won the Champions League in 2012 and he mentioned it was in his worst moment at Chelsea. A great example for us.”

Chelsea, who have been boosted by Thiago Silva, N’Golo Kanté and Mason Mount regaining fitness and travelling to Spain, will be underdogs when they play the first leg of their quarter-final against Madrid. But Lampard believes his side can answer doubts over their character at the Bernabéu. “A quarter-final is an occasion and we have to play the occasion because levels go up at this point in the competition,” the 44-year-old said. “But we have to come here with the belief that we can perform under that pressure.

“We have to follow the idea because in a high-level game the biggest thing can sometimes be the mentality – following through with