‘Not many teams have had our injuries’: Frank Lampard plays down Jose Mourinho’s moans as Chelsea prepare to face rivals Tottenham in crunch top four showdown
- Frank Lampard is preparing to face Jose Mourinho as Chelsea host Tottenham
- Both sides have been blighted by injuries in recent weeks as form has suffered
- The Blues are set to welcome back Ruben Loftus-Cheek after a long lay-off
- Spurs will leapfrog Chelsea in fourth should they win the Stamford Bridge clash
Frank Lampard has hit back at Jose Mourinho’s claims that Tottenham have one of the worst injury crisis in European football by insisting few teams have problems of Chelsea‘s extent.
Mourinho, who is set for a frosty return to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, recently complained that Spurs’ situation ‘couldn’t be worse’ and moved to make his former club favourites for the showdown.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash, Lampard acknowleged Spurs’ situation but made clear the Blues had plenty of their own problems to contend with ahead of the all-London affair.
Lampard is set to go up against his former manager and mentor Jose Mourinho on Saturday
Mourinho recently complained that Tottenham’s injury crisis simply could not be worse
‘Harry Kane is a miss, Son is a miss. They have had injuries in the past but they have players who can fill in,’ said Lampard.
‘Dele Alli is having a really good season and will be a dangerous player to watch.’
Tottenham are without Song Heung-Min who recently fractured his arm against Aston Villa
Andreas Christensen will be available after this week having a mask fitted for a broken nose
Chelsea face a selection crisis for the derby showdown, with players in various positions across the pitch unavailable.
‘N’Golo Kante is not fit, he has a muscle injury and will be out for three weeks,’ Lampard outlined.
‘[Christian] Pulisic is not fit. Tammy [Abraham] has trained and is in the squad. [Andreas] Christensen went to get a mask for a broken nose but is available.
‘This season is a transitional year, and fans appreciate that. Not many teams have had our injuries. Kante has played 50 per cent of the games.
‘The fans respect that and they see what we try to do. They will be there to support us. It is tight at the moment and we need the fans behind us. The players will give everything.’
Chelsea have however been boosted with the return to training of midfielder Ruben Lofus-Cheek, who will be included in the squad for Saturday’s match, though will not feature in the starting XI.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has returned to training and will be part of the squad to face Tottenham
Lampard later added that his relationship with his former manager Mourinho has naturally changed, though a deep-rooted respect still remains.
‘Our relationship after working together changes. We’re very amicable and respectful of each but obviously we both want our teams to win,’ Lampard added.