'Taking the p***!': Lampard SLAUGHTERED for Chelsea line-up against Real Madrid

Suraj Radia

• 18 Apr 2023 20:27 BST
• 4 min read

Frank Lampard’s line-up for Chelsea’s Champions League knockout second leg tie against Real Madrid was ridiculed by fans, with some describing it as the worst teamsheet they had ever seen.

Chelsea fans were expecting an attacking side in order to make up the 2-0 deficit from the first leg and, while Lampard made six changes from Chelsea’s defeat to Brighton, the swaps were not well received by supporters.

Lampard opted for a back five, perhaps to ensure Chelsea didn’t risk conceding further, but selected four central midfielders behind Kai Havertz, with Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Mykhailo Mudryk all relegated to the bench.

QUOTES: Lampard 'a better manager than Julian Nagelsmann'

Chelsea’s lone goalscorer against Brighton, Conor Gallagher, kept his place in an intriguing formation which could see the 23-year-old and N’Golo Kante be used as attacking midfielders, with an Enzo Fernandez and Mateo Kovavic double pivot behind the duo.

Joao Felix was also left on the bench as one of six forward options, prompting fury from supporters who could not fathom why Chelsea were attempting to recover from a 2-0 deficit by fielding just one attacker in Havertz.

A poor display could pile even more pressure on Lampard in the event of a poor display after seeing owner Todd Boehly criticise the team in the dressing room following the Brighton loss.

’Lampard thinks we’re the team leading 2-0!’

The formation represented the most confusion for Chelsea fans, with many pointing out that the visual line-up was effectively pointing at the Blues goal.

However, there were also concerns about Lampard dropping Mudryk, with one fan saying “Mudryk was our best attacker last game and Lampard benches him. What type of man management is that?”

Another fan passionately tweeted: “That lineup from Lampard is criminal. I expected something crap but in all honesty not that crap! We’re 2-0 down and that’s what he’s gone with?! The standout is Mudryk on the bench. Horrific man management to bench him. 4 CMs all on the pitch at the same time?!”

Some fans also couldn’t help but think of conspiracies in order to make sense of the teamsheet, with one supporter tweeting: “Lampard is genuinely taking the piss with that lineup. Feels like he’s trying to sabotage us for sacking him 2 years ago.”

However, not all fans were giving up hope, with some suggesting it was ‘4D Chess’ from Lampard and others suggesting the interim manager didn’t have much choice considering how poor Chelsea have played recently, indicating that perhaps the Blues could pull off a surprise with their unpredictable line-up.