Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Champions League: Frank Lampard insists Chelsea will not take Steaua Bucharest lightly in 'must-win' clash

After suffering defeat to Basle at Stamford Bridge, the Blues need a victory to kick-start their European campaign or face an early exit

Matt McGeehan
Tuesday 01 October 2013 18:10 BST
Comments
Frank Lampard has insisted Chelsea cannot afford to be complacent when they take on Steaua Bucharest
Frank Lampard has insisted Chelsea cannot afford to be complacent when they take on Steaua Bucharest

Midfielder Frank Lampard insisted Chelsea will avoid complacency in tonight's Champions League Group E encounter at Steaua Bucharest, where anything less than victory will leave the 2012 European Cup winners in a precarious position.

After defeat to Basle in their opening match, Jose Mourinho's side must win at the National Arena on a pitch sodden by torrential rain despite the presence of a canvas roof.

Follow live coverage of Tuesday's Champions League action, including Arsenal v Napoli, Celtic v Barcelona and Steaua Bucharest v Chelsea

Chelsea played Steaua en route to winning the Europa League and Lampard hopes to avoid a repeat of the March defeat.

"You can never underestimate any team in the Champions League," Lampard said. "In the first game we didn't perform well, we lost. That's what happens. "(But) we've got five games now to go, five games to put that right. That's a lot.

"We don't expect an easy game. We're lucky to have played Steaua Bucharest last season so we're fully aware of the good team they are. Last year we started slowly and we lost the game in the first half.

"Considering the position we're in now - we need a result - we have to start the game at a top level."

Mourinho, too, appeared keen to take care of matters swiftly on the eve of the contest, his mood imitating the stormy weather as he shortened his pre-match media conference.

The Portuguese took exception to a question about absent forward Kevin de Bruyne.

With Juan Mata informed he will start in Bucharest after beginning the season as a peripheral figure, De Bruyne was told he was not required and was left at home alongside his fellow Belgian Eden Hazard, who has an ankle injury.

"This is fantastic because nobody asks me about Mata," Mourinho said.

"You are for three weeks speaking about Mata, and now you are speaking about Kevin de Bruyne.

"So you are not interested in the players that are playing? You are interested in the players that are not playing.

"He was not selected. It was my decision. Only 11 can play and 18 can be selected."

Hazard is expected to miss Sunday's Barclays Premier League match at Norwich and to next likely to be available for Chelsea after the international break, when striker Fernando Torres will next play domestically.

The Spain striker faces a four-match ban for his altercation with Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen during Saturday's London derby, when it appeared Torres scratched the defender on the face.

The Football Association is gathering evidence and has until 6pm on Tuesday evening to determine whether to punish Torres, who will be banned for one game anyway due to his dismissal for two yellow cards, based on video evidence.

Mourinho's hasty exit meant it was left to Lampard to field questions on Torres.

"I'm not sure if he will," Lampard said.

"If he does, then we lose a player in good form, one of our main strikers for four games. People will have to step up."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in