Enzo Fernandez has revealed what advice Frank Lampard has given the Chelsea players ahead of the clash against Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti will welcome the Blues to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening for the Champions League quarter-final first-leg.
Both Chelsea and Real Madrid head into the tie following defeats at the weekend; the west London outfit lost 1-0 to Wolves, while Villarreal boasted a 3-2 win over a weakened Los Blancos side. Ancelotti made six changes to the lineup which trounced Barcelona just a few days prior, with the Italian eager to rest his star players before locking horns with the Blues.
The Spanish giants omitted Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Federico Valverde from midfield, as well as Antonio Rudiger, Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Carvajal in defence. Speaking in the post-match press conference, Ancelotti suggested that the sextet will return to his starting lineup.
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"In terms of the Champions League, it’s a defeat that doesn’t change our mood for Wednesday’s game, which will be different," he said. "I may repeat the same 11 from Camp Nou. I made a lot of rotations today because the game against Barcelona demanded a lot from us physically and mentally."
Chelsea also rested a number of players ahead of the tie; N'Golo Kante was left out as a precaution, while Ben Chilwell, Mykhailo Mudryk and Christian Pulisic resided on the bench. With the Blues in for a difficult evening, Lampard issued the squad some words of wisdom.
"Frank talked with the group a bit and he told us to keep our heads straight," said Fernandez. "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."
Then, when asked for his thoughts on Real Madrid and whether he's afraid of the occasion, the Argentine midfielder replied: "It is a very big club with a lot of history, big players. We trust in what we are going to do. A good match.
"Modric and Kroos are two players who won everything in Madrid and they are an inspiration for everyone. Afraid, no. We are not afraid.
"Of course, there is respect because we know the quality they have and the forwards they have. But we will try to counteract them with our defenders and try to make a wonderful match."
He added: "I try not to have pressure in football, just to enjoy each match. I know the responsibility but for me, there is no pressure, I always try to enjoy. Being afraid? No. you don’t have to be afraid, you have to enjoy it. Let’s hope tomorrow it is a big show."
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