Frank Lampard has admitted to concerns over the fitness of his Chelsea players ahead of the Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.
The Blues host the Spanish side at Stamford Bridge in the second leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday after they were beat 2-0 in the first meeting.
Chelsea have lost all three games under Lampard, who returned for his second stint as head coach following the sacking of Graham Potter.
It has been an abysmal season for the west London club, who suffered defeat at home to Brighton on Saturday.
Quizzed about the current status of his squad, Lampard said: ‘At the minute, it has been mostly conversations and meetings than training pitch stuff.
‘Training pitch stuff was all pretty walkthrough and low level because of the [tiredness] in the legs.
‘It is more about speaking to the players individually. When we do get the chance to work, I think the team needs some physical work.
‘I think that’s important for us because at this level you have to be right on the limit and we are not on the limit right now.
‘I think that can be a capacity thing with the players for whatever reason. It doesn’t matter how we got there but it needs to be addressed now.’
Asked about his side’s woeful form, Lampard added: ‘I think maybe when some players are lacking confidence then it can be seen as a hunger thing.
‘When you are a yard short, you are just a yard short. Or when you are receiving the ball and not confident, you take your first touch backwards.
‘That can sometimes feel like a hunger or lack of passion thing but I don’t feel that. I feel like the players are hungry to be successful as Chelsea players.’
Chelsea suffered early exits in the domestic cups this term and are currently 11th in the Premier League table, despite spending over £600m on players since the summer.
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