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Football London
Football London
Sport
Scott Trotter

Every word Frank Lampard said on Mason Mount, N'Golo Kante injury, Chelsea aggression and Wolves

Did that highlight how big a task it is for the next two months?

I think it's a big task. You're managing Chelsea Football Club. We know we're not in a position we want to be in. There's always a reason for it, the reality of the league season. I was aware of that and I didn't expect to solve everything in one day. At the same time, maybe a bit of it, I think it was a performance if I really analyse it and you want to win a Premier League game, I think you have to have more aggression in your game. More speed, more competitive duels that go your way rather than the opposition. That baseline of stuff of a team that our fighting for their Premier League lives will always dictate the turning of the result of the game regardless of the talent maybe on each side.

I think there was a little bit of that today. The players need to be aware of that because without that you can't win games and you can't be the team that Chelsea have been and we want to get back to. It was interesting to see in many ways. I'm here to help with that.

This is not stinging criticism. What are the reason why we maybe can be like that at times? Find that and I know there's a lot of talent there, I've seen it in the last couple of days and I'm looking forward to more of it.

READ MORE : Chelsea player ratings as Kai Havertz flounders, Raheem Sterling struggles in dire Wolves loss

How did it feel getting the team ready? Surreal or like you'd not been away?

Somewhere in the middle because four or five days ago I was planning different stuff. That part of it is surreal. Being Chelsea manager doesn't feel too different to me, and I'm not taking it lightly like that. This has been my club for a long time, I really appreciate being back, I love being at Cobham, I love representing the club.

The practical side is what matters to me and seeing the players, training the players, Some players I haven't been able to have much conversation with at all yet because of the time constraint. That's important for me. I'm very happy to be back and I'm disappointed I couldn't give the fans a win in my first game back. We go again. We've a huge game waiting for us on Wednesday where everything changes. Champions League build up, feeling, I'm very excited about that.

Can you let us know whether any of the players not in the squad are injured?

Kante is managing one. He's fit but we know after his injury the idea of game, game, game... Azpi is nearly fit, training with us the last one or two days. Needs a little bit of fitness- but he's better. Mason, had a feeling in his pelvic area. Injury that he's been carrying the last two days. He trained in those two days but was struggling a little bit. Bettinelli has got a small problem, no big deal. They're the injured ones.

All season there has been a problem when the team plays out from the back, there's no movement. No perceived way of playing, need to start from scratch?

That's your opinion. My job in this period is to work with the team to give the idea that I want and reinforce that. In two days it's difficult. I was relying on the players today a little bit and giving some messaging. We did as much as we could, we saw some bits of it.

In terms of the lower part of the pitch - I think our players can all receive the ball and accept the ball but if I'm agreeing with you in any part it's that you receive the ball down low because you want to progress up the pitch. You have to find the right solutions, the right positions and the right ideas and that takes some work. That will be part of the process. You have to options where you can play over or out of the press. We have to be able to do that as well. Hopefully it will change a bit in your opinion.

How do you get that aggression with Real Madrid on Wednesday? A worry for some.

If you're worried, don't come. The players shouldn't be. It's a carrot for them when they sign for Chelsea. Every player in that squad whether it's Mateo Kovacic who has won two Champions League and played in World Cup semis, finals, you deserve to play for Chelsea or if you're Mudryk and you come here, you've had your pathway to get here. You're here for a reason.

To expect everything to come together as a squad is maybe not the case. I'm not saying the squad- doesn't have aggression, it's just bringing together. Sometimes a bit of confidence, a lack of confidence can look like aggression to the eye. As a team we were up against a team that were very aggressive today and maybe some second balls and duels and things like that we weren't quite at. I don't mind saying because it has to be said to be a reality to be dealt with. Wednesday will be a completely different game but those things are always still there in some form or another. We've got a few days to recover, prepare and go again.

How confident are you N'Golo Kante will be fit for Madrid and can you confirm any additions in the backroom?

I can't speak about the backroom, for some reason other than what you saw. You can write what you saw. N'Golo will be fine as it stands now. Managing him to be fit for the game. Not an issue.

READ NEXT:

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Why Frank Lampard dropped N'Golo Kante and Mason Mount vs Wolves as clever Chelsea plan revealed

Behind the scenes at Frank Lampard's first press conference following stunning Chelsea return

What Frank Lampard learned at Everton and the advice he received to be better at Chelsea

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