Real Madrid News
Chelsea receive huge injury boost as Lampard confirms trio fit to face Real Madrid
In a major boost for Chelsea, caretaker manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that the trio of Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante and Thiago Silva are all fit and ready to face Real Madrid.
Chelsea take on Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals. And they have received a massive boost with the availability of three important players for the contest on Wednesday night.
“They’re all fit. The three players you mentioned are good and they’re here,” Lampard said in his pre-match presser (h/t Football.london).
Kante has endured an injury-riddled campaign so far and is yet to play a single game in the Champions League this season. The veteran midfielder only returned to action earlier this month, but was again dropped for the Premier League clash vs Wolves this past weekend.
However, the Frenchman is fully fit and ready for the game against Real Madrid, Lampard has confirmed.
As for Silva, the veteran centre-back had been sidelined since mid-February after picking up a knee injury against Tottenham. The Brazilian only returned to training this past Monday but has been passed fit enough to travel to Madrid for tomorrow’s clash.
Mount, meanwhile, has also been out for a significant time due to an abdominal issue. The England star had returned to training in the past couple of weeks and had been named on the bench for two games.
But, ahead of the match against Wolves last weekend, there was a minor relapse in injury, which cast doubts over his involvement. But, now, he is said to have fully recovered and is fit to face Carlo Ancelotti’s men at the Santiago Bernabeu.
During the presser, Lampard also spoke highly of Real Madrid’s veteran trio of Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, hailing them for their longevity.
“I’ve got huge respect for the team, my biggest respect for the team and the success, it’s for the players with longevity. Benzema, Modric, Kroos. To appreciate what it takes and to be the leaders of the group – huge admiration for them,” he said.
Lampard also spoke about former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, who joined Real Madrid last summer, saying: “I think Toni Rudiger has done fantastically well. When I last saw him as Everton manager, I wished him well as the Madrid move was going to happen.
“Antonio Rudiger played a lot for me but our story ended and his continued. Good luck to him and good luck to any player that works as hard as Toni to get to Chelsea and Real Madrid.”
Looking forward to the tie, he added: “Are Real Madrid favourites? Yes. There’s no better carrot in football and trying to prove people wrong. That’s a nice challenge. Football is pressure and if you can’t handle it, you’re not a big club or big player.”
Real Madrid have officially announced that winger Marco Asensio will be leaving the club as a free agent at the end of the season. The Spaniard was between a contract extension and departure for a very long time, and eventually decided it was best for him to leave.
Asensio joined Madrid eight years ago, as a 20-year-old, and was loaned out to Espanyol during his first season in the top flight, where he scored four goals and gave ten assists across 34 appearances.
He has since been a key member of Real Madrid’s team, often dropping in and out of starting lineups, though. During his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, Asensio has won three UEFA Champions Leagues, four FIFA Club World Cups, three La Ligas, and three European Super Cups.
“Real Madrid fans will never forget their path and their exemplary behaviors during all this time. Madrid is, and will always be, his home,” the farewell announcement said.
Now, rumours suggest that Asensio will heading to Paris to join PSG on a Bosman move.
