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Frank Lampard puts Chelsea flops to work in training after cheeky dig at Graham Potter ahead of biggest game of season


FRANK LAMPARD put his Chelsea players through their paces ahead of their Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday.

The Blues face the mammoth task of overturning a 2-0 quarter-final first-leg deficit at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard was out on the training pitch with Ashley Cole on MondayCredit: Reuters
He is preparing for Chelsea’s clash with Real Madrid on TuesdayCredit: Reuters
Cole has been appointed by Lampard as interim first-team coachCredit: PA
Chelsea are looking to overturn a two-goal deficit against Real MadridCredit: PA

And they come into the game off the back of a 2-1 home loss to Brighton on Saturday.

Lampard has suffered three successive defeats since returning to West London as interim boss.

But he was out on the training pitch on Monday morning as he bids to formulate a plan to defeat the 14-time European champions.

It comes after a sly dig at former manager Graham Potter as he slammed the squad’s fitness.

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Chelsea are looking to end a run of three defeats in a rowCredit: Reuters
The Blues have not won any of their last six games in all competitionsCredit: PA
Lampard is still searching for his first win since returning to ChelseaCredit: Reuters
The Champions League is all Chelsea have left to play for this seasonCredit: PA

Following the Brighton defeat, he said: “At the minute, it has been mostly conversations and meetings than training pitch stuff.

“Training pitch stuff was all pretty walkthrough and low level because of the [tiredness] in the legs.

“It is more about speaking to the players individually. When we do get the chance to work, I think the team needs some physical work.

“I think that’s important for us because at this level you have to be right on the limit and we are not on the limit right now.

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“I think that can be a capacity thing with the players for whatever reason. It doesn’t matter how we got there but it needs to be addressed now.”

Ben Chilwell will be unavailable for the game following his red card at the Bernabeu last week.

It means Marc Cucurella is expected to return at left-back, but Kalidou Koulibaly is unavailable with a hamstring problem.

Armando Broja is still sidelined, with Kai Havertz, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Carney Chukwuemeka all facing late fitness tests.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Noni Madueke are all ineligible.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will still be without Ferland Mendy for the trip to Chelsea.

But Vinicius Junior and Toni Kroos will be available despite missing Saturday’s 2-0 win over Cadiz due to minor knocks.

Chelsea were eliminated by Real Madrid in last season’s Champions LeagueCredit: PA


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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