Frank Lampard warns Chelsea stars against Champions League complacency
Speaking to the club’s official website (h/t Metro), Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has warned his players to not be complacent in Europe.
The Blues were handed a favourable draw for the group stages of the UEFA Champions League. Chelsea will face off against Europa League champions Sevilla and newcomers Krasnodar and Stade Rennais.
While the Spaniards could prove to be tricky opponents, Chelsea will be expected to do the double over the other two teams in the group.
With our opener against Sevilla just over a week away, Lampard has urged his stars to not take it easy. The Blues boss is happy with the draw and has already analyzed the teams we are set to go up against.
“I am happy with the draw in the fact that we analysed straightaway the teams we are playing against.”
Despite the luck of the draw, no team makes it to the Champions League without being a formidable outfit in its own right.
Rising to the occasion
We have seen in the past that unheralded sides such as FC Porto in 2004 and Liverpool in 2005 have gone on to win after being considered as underdogs.
Although the prospect of our group rivals going on to do well in the competition is unlikely, it is not impossible. We only need to look at what Atalanta and RB Leipzig achieved last season.
It is heartening to see that Lampard is not taking any result for granted. This will ensure that we are ready to face whatever challenge is thrown at us.
“They are very tough games, all the teams that we play, especially when you are travelling in Europe you always know you are going to get very competitive games.”
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Chelsea crashed out of the tournament in the last-16 in the previous season. Eventual champions Bayern Munich outclassed us both home and away by winning both the legs.
Given the improvements we have made to our squad, fans will expect Chelsea to do a lot better this time around.