LAMPS JUST KIDDING
Blues boss will stick with young guns
FRANK LAMPARD insists he is ready to throw in the kids again against Liverpool tonight.
A youthful Blues line-up lost 4-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday.
But Lampard won’t take his rising stars out of the firing line against the Champions League winners in tonight’s Super Cup showdown.
The Chelsea boss, who also revealed N’Golo Kante is a major doubt with an ankle injury, said: “I believe in the players.
“With regards to picking inexperienced or experienced teams, I completely pick the best team I see to win the game regardless of age. It’s very important to have a competitive team. Yes, if
young players are showing what they can do in training and deserve their chance.
“Mason Mount deserves his chance completely on merit as opposed to age.
“I will have no fears playing young players because it’s important for a club like Chelsea that we do that but they need to deserve their chance. We have to respect the strengths of the team we are playing.
“And Liverpool is a different challenge to Manchester United.
“That doesn’t mean we are willing to concede ground or defend our own box. There may be subtle changes in our approach but what has to stay is the intensity of our work.
“I am optimistic because I believe in the players. I believe in the fact we’re in the final because we deserve to be.
“If we play to our maximum we can win the match.”
Willian will return on the bench but Antonio Rudiger, who trained yesterday, is not ready to return after a knee injury.
Kante will be assessed after taking a knock on Sunday.
Lampard added: “We need to make a decision on Kante. He has a small injury which we are concerned about.”