JAKARTA - Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes defending European champions Bayern Munich is a benchmark for his young players looking to improve on all fronts ahead of their Champions League opener against Sevilla.
Bayern beat Lampard's side 7-1 on aggregate in last season's last 16 before lifting the trophy for the sixth time last August.
Sevilla in our sights! 👀 #CHESEV pic.twitter.com/yJcfZZU3H1
- Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 19, 2020
"The club is a great platform to learn because you play against the best, and we play against the best in Bayern Munich," Lampard said in a press conference as quoted by Antara , Tuesday, October 20.
"We were a youth team last year, working hard to improve, and the Bayern game is a good benchmark for the young players in this squad to realize the level to be reached. I remember experiencing that myself as a young player."
"Of the players we've brought in, some players have had more Champions League experience than others."
Chelsea have added Champions League experience to their squad at the close of the season with defender Thiago Silva and three forwards Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Even so, Lampard's side struggled to catch up on pace after a short pre-season and lost their concentration against Southampton who came back to equalize 3-3 at Stamford Bridge last Saturday.
Coming up at 1.30pm (UK) today ... #CHESEV
- Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 19, 2020
Sevilla visit Stamford Bridge for Chelsea's first Group E match which is also home to Russian clubs FC Krasnodar and Stade Rennais of France.
"I've mentioned before about concentration, focus and discipline and that's more important here than any other competition because it's Champions League level," added Lampard.
"That's what I always emphasize to the players who will compete against a quality team like Sevilla."
Lampard confirmed midfielder Billy Gilmour will return to action soon after starting to recover from knee surgery. "Hopefully two or three weeks," concluded Lampard.
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