Frank Lampard has been told Reece James and Thiago Silva will be key to stopping Real Madrid's vibrant attack in Chelsea's Champions League clash. The Blues head into their quarter-final tie with the holders as obvious underdogs but there is certainly enough quality in their squad to cause Madrid problems on their own patch.
The importance of the European clash was obvious to see as Ben Chilwell and N'Golo Kante were named on the bench against Wolves over the weekend. Chilwell was introduced with 30 minutes to play as the Blues searched for an equaliser, but Kante remained an unused substitute.
The duo will likely be key to Lampard's plans if Chelsea want the tie to still be competitive for the return fixture at Stamford Bridge in seven days. Another pair who will have to be at the top of their games is James and Silva although the latter is a slight doubt from the start.
READ MORE: Enzo Fernandez reveals 'great' advice Frank Lampard has given Chelsea for Real Madrid clash
After going off in the first half of the February 28 defeat to Tottenham, Silva has not played since and only made his training return on Monday. Nonetheless, the veteran Brazilian was named in the Blues' travelling squad alongside Mason Mount and Cesar Azpilicueta who have also been absent for the last few weeks with niggling injuries.
If James and Silva both start, they will undoubtedly be up against Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema. The Madrid attacking duo caused Liverpool insurmountable problems in the last-16, and in the hopes of stopping them from having an impact, former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor has told Lampard the key Chelsea jobs he must give James and Silva.
Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "You have to be cautious. Vinicius: if I'm Frank Lampard I'm telling Reece James to follow him, he's done well against them before. [Karim] Benzema.. you want Thiago Silva back with his experience against Benzema. He's a poacher, if you take your eye off him for a second he'll score a goal."
While warning Chelsea off Madrid's strengths, Aston Villa's all-time record scorer also admitted he believes the Blues can get a result on one condition.
"What frustrates me about Chelsea is the fact they've got so many good players," he said. "[Raheem] Sterling, [Kai] Havertz, [Joao] Felix, [Mykhailo] Mudryk, obviously he's come in and it hasn't quite worked out yet but he's going to be a top player one day.
"Enzo [Fernandez] in the middle, [Mateo] Kovacic, [N'Golo] Kante, [Ben] Chilwell, Reece James - if those players all play at their best they could give anyone a game. They could go to Madrid tonight and get a draw or even win the game if all those players play at the top level."
READ NEXT:
Thiago Silva shock, N'Golo Kante return – Chelsea changes Frank Lampard may make vs Real Madrid
Latest Chelsea injury news as two miss Real Madrid amid Frank Lampard's Thiago Silva hope
Chelsea in stunning Christian Pulisic transfer swap claims for Arsenal target
Six Chelsea players face suspension if booked in Champions League fixture vs Real Madrid
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, views and rumours from Stamford Bridge
