Frank Lampard says N’Golo Kante will be ready for Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid but doubts remain over Mason Mount’s availability.
Both midfielders missed Saturday’s meeting with Wolves with Frank Lampard’s tenure as interim boss beginning in the worst possible fashion with a 1-0 defeat at Molineux.
Kante has missed most of the 2022-23 season with a hamstring injury but made his return against Aston Villa at the start of April, starting and captaining the side midweek against Liverpool.
While the France international was left out of the squad on Saturday, Lampard explained post-match he will be available for the visit to the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
‘Kante is managing his fitness,’ Lampard said. ‘He is fit but we know after his injury the idea of game, game, game is too much.’
Lampard later added: ‘N’Golo will be fine as it stands. It is not an issue, we were just managing his gametime.’
Mount, who thrived under Lampard during the Chelsea legend’s spell in charge between 2019 and 2021, also missed out against Wolves.
The England midfielder returned to the squad as an unused sub in the goalless draw against Liverpool and after training this week, was expected to return to the side. An injury ruled him out however with Lampard revealing he has been struggling with a knock.
‘Mason had a feeling in his pelvic area, an injury he has been carrying the last few days.He has trained in those days but has struggled a little bit.’
Chelsea were undone by a sensational goal from Matheus Nunes but offered little against a side fighting for their Premier League lives.
The result leaves Chelsea in 11th place with Lampard again acknowledging the ‘big task’ of lifting the club from their slump.
‘We know we’re not in a position we want to be in. There’s always a reason for it,’ Lampard said.
‘I didn’t expect to solve everything in one day. You have to have more aggression in your game, more speed and more competitive duels which go your way.
‘The players need to be aware of that because without that you can’t win games. It was interesting to see anyway, I’m here to help with that. It’s not stinging criticism, I know there’s a lot of talent there.’
MORE : Frank Lampard speaks out as first game back at Chelsea ends in Wolves defeat
MORE : Why Mason Mount was not included in Frank Lampard’s Chelsea team to face Wolves
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
