Chelsea hero Joe Cole insists the gap between the Blues and Real Madrid is ‘not as big as people think’.
Frank Lampard’s side take on the Spanish giants at the Bernabeu tonight in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Blues have endured a torrid domestic season and their only hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League is by winning this season’s competition.
Real Madrid, as current champions, go into the tie as favourites.
But the Spaniards have suffered a difficult domestic campaign of their own, with the pressure building on Carlo Ancelotti.
And, despite most people believing Madrid will progress, Cole says the gap between the two teams isn’t as big as many think.
‘It’s a tall order for Chelsea, but I don’t think the gap is as big as people think,’ Cole told BT Sport.
When asked if Lampard can get more out of the players, Cole replied: ‘He certainly can. Like Frank said in his interview, it’s a difficult season for Chelsea and they’re in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
‘You have to put that into perspective with where the club has been for the last 20 years. There is a big change. We’ve had 30 players change, managers, owners, everything – it’s a big, big change.’
Thiago Silva has trained in the last two days for the Blues and could make his return against Madrid.
The Brazilian has been missing for the last six weeks with a knee injury.
Silva joined the club during Lampard’s first stint, following ten years at Paris Saint-Germain.
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