Blues boss challenges ‘outsiders’
Finishing top of the group is the target for Chelsea’s fringe players, Lampard insists
FRANK Lampard will rotate his Chelsea team for tonight’s Champions League Group E clash away to Sevilla and has challenged his fringe players to grab their chance.
With both sides on 10 points and assured of progress to the last 16, victory for either would clinch top spot.
“It’s certainly not a dead rubber, we want to win the group,” Lampard said yesterday, saying Callum Hudson-Odoi and Billy Gilmour are likely to be involved.
“The motivation for the players is to show why they should be in the starting eleven. Some players have been playing a lot.
“It’s been a hectic schedule. We have had players knocking on the door, but we won’t take it lightly.”
Forward Hudson-Odoi has struggled for first-team opportunities this season and was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
“It was difficult to tell him that he wasn’t in the Spurs squad as his attitude has been bang on,” Lampard said of the 20-year-old. “He was bright against Rennes and Newcastle (United).
“I am aware of Callum and where he is at, he took it well but it wasn’t and easy conversation.
“He is getting better and is back in contention and I want him to keep that going. I want him to stay positive.”
Teenage midfielder Gilmour has not made a first-team appearance this season and had been troubled by a back injury.
“He is fit and he could probably do with some more match minutes,” Lampard said. “He is in the squad tomorrow and it would be nice for him to get some minutes in these two group stages. He has a great attitude and will compete with the rest of the midfielders.”
Chelsea drew 0-0 at home to Europa League winners Sevilla in October, and Lampard is respectful of the Spanish side who are currently fifth in La Liga.
“They are a fantastic team and they have a great coach. They remind me of a Premier League team with their attributes. I expect a tough match,” Lampard said.
Meanwhile, Sevilla coach Julen
Lopetegui does not plan to rest any players for the game even though his side have already qualified for the knockout stages and face Real Madrid next weekend.
Both sides are locked on 10 points and are into the next round although the winner of tonight’s match at the Sanchez Pizjuan will clinch top spot in Group E and be seeded for the last-16 draw.
The coach said he still hoped to be able to count upon forwards Luuk de Jong and Lucas Ocampos, who missed training yesterday, while he will be without first-choice goalkeeper Bono and forward Carlos Fernandez due to testing positive for Covid-19, plus injured midfielders Marcos Acuna and Suso.
After facing Chelsea, Sevilla host La Liga champions Madrid on Saturday.
“A couple of our players have not been able to train (De Jong and Ocampos) and I hope we can get them back and not lose anyone else,” Lopetegui said yesterday.
“The match is a very exciting challenge, against a team that is designed to win the Champions League. They have the best attack in England (along with Liverpool) and we are very excited about playing for the prize of top spot.”
Having made a rough start to the domestic season, Lopetegui’s side are on a run of five consecutive wins in all competitions.
Chelsea are unbeaten since September and were on a run of six straight victories until Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Premier League leaders Tottenham
“We are in good form despite the players we are missing but I expect a very complex game against a side with a lot of individual and collective talent and we’ll have to double our work and efforts if we want to win,” he added.