Lampard to return for Chelsea in Champions League
Frank Lampard will be part of the Chelsea starting XI for the Champions League meeting with the champions of Denmark, Nordsjaelland, the Guardian has reported. The England midfielder was a substitute for the weekend’s Premier League victory over Arsenal.
The newspaper adds that Lampard appears comfortable with the rotation policy of manager Robert Di Matteo, having already missed the league meeting with Stoke City earlier in the season. It is in stark contrast to a year ago when Di Matteo’s predecessor, Andre Villas-Boas, dropped Lampard from the team, leading to the Chelsea vice-captain growing disgruntled at his treatment.
Di Matteo has however avoided a similar situation by being more open with Lampard, discussing his reasons for resting the 34-year-old in a manner that Villas-Boas never did. Di Matteo said: “Frank is still a key player and very important for us. We talk and, as much as nobody likes to be on the bench, I hope he understands. His attitude has shown he supports the team and that’s very important.”
Lampard has been at Chelsea for more than a decade, moving to Stamford Bridge from West Ham United in 2001 and has made more than 300 appearances for the West London side. While at Chelsea, Lampard has won the Premier League title three times, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice and the Champions League once, and has more than 90 England caps to his name.
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