Lampard makes astonishing Champions League admission in leaked text

Jacque Talbot

• 8 Apr 2023 11:44 BST
• 3 min read

Frank Lampard’s shock return to Chelsea stifled his Champions League commentary gig with BT Sport.

Commentator Darren Fletcher revealed the Blues legend was actually supposed to be scheduled to be in attendance for Chelsea's tie with Real Madrid, only on pundit duty.

The former Chelsea midfielder made the return to Stamford Bridge, this time on an interim basis until the end of the season.

After the sacking of Graham Potter, Chelsea have decided to bide their time in making another appointment, and so have asked Lampard to come in to see the club until the end of the season.

Bruno Saltor had taken charge of the goalless draw against Liverpool but Todd Boehly made contact with Lampard and brought him in.

Lampard 'on the line'

Speaking as part of Five Live's Friday Football Social, Fletcher said that Lampard was supposed to be at their upcoming Los Blancos Champions League encounter anyway.

The journalist said: "Frank Lampard was supposed to be with us in Madrid to do

commentary for the Real Madrid v Chelsea match with me. He sent me a message saying 'I'm supposed to be there working with you, and now I'm going to be on the line!'

"It's total madness that he was going to be there anyway - now he's going to be there in a very important capacity, let alone watching it and analysing it.

"I don't think he will mind me doing this."

🤣 @DFletcherSport shares a story about Frank Lampard #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/mYzNsuqVvr

— BBC 5 Live Sport (@5liveSport) April 7, 2023

"You can imagine what his head's like at the minute, when you were supposed to be working for the television, but now not only are you going to be there, but you're going to be picking the team, working out the tactics, trying to motivate everybody - and in the process try and beat the European champions."

Chelsea have nine more Premier League matches to play, with hopes of Champions League qualification pretty much out of sight.

But there is still all to play for the in Europe’s biggest competition as they will head to reigning champions Madrid on Wednesday in the first-leg of their quarterfinal tie.