LAMPS’ TOUGH CL TASK
MUNICH is home to the crowning glory of Frank Lampard’s playing career for Chelsea.
Getting his hands on the European Cup – after beating Bayern in their own back yard in 2012 – is the triumph that truly puts him among the game’s elite.
Lampard scored one of the spot-kicks in the shoot-out that decided things eight years ago.
Now, he will be hoping to perform a similar miracle as a manager in the Allianz Arena.
Bayern inflicted a 3-0 drubbing at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of this Champions League last-16 tie back in February.
While the German giants last kicked a ball in anger on July 4 – beating Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 to lift the domestic cup – Chelsea’s season ended yesterday, after the FA Cup Final with Arsenal.
It will take a masterstroke to overcome the Bayern deficit, but, in Lampard, Chelsea have a boss who knows how to make players believe anything is possible.
One such player was Conor Clifford, who scored the goal that clinched the FA Youth Cup for Chelsea, 10 years ago.
It was the club’s first taste of success in the competition since 1961, and they have gone on to lift it on a further six occasions.
Clifford says Lampard was always on hand to lend a helping hand or some words of advice.
“On the pitch, he would always be asking questions,” recalled Clifford, now with Derry City.
“When we did 11 v 11 in training with Carlo Ancelotti, it’s not that he would doubt what Ancelotti was doing, but he’d be asking why certain things were being done.
“You always knew that he had it in him to want to be a manager. The way he would talk to you, as a player, he would make you feel better about yourself.
“He is someone who doesn’t let you down. I would say he’d be unbelievable to play for because he will be there for you.
“I recall when Chelsea were here [in Dublin] for pre-season.
“I was with St Pat’s (Athletic) and he came over to me afterwards and gave me a big hug. It had been a long time since I was at the club, so I wasn’t sure if he’d remember. But he asked how I was and how my parents were. Those are class touches.”