Chelsea is bracing itself for a season-defining Champions League quarter-final clash against Real Madrid as the Blues aim to make a mark on their European campaign amidst a challenging domestic season. With the first leg scheduled at the Santiago Bernabeu, Chelsea will need to deliver a strong performance against the Spanish giants to keep their hopes alive for the return leg at Stamford Bridge.
Interim manager Frank Lampard, who took charge of Chelsea just a week ago, faces a monumental task as the team has been struggling to find the net in recent Premier League matches. However, he remains optimistic and emphasized the need for discipline and focus ahead of the high-stakes encounter.
“We have to understand the strengths of the Real Madrid team, their qualities in possession, and their individual talent. We have to be very disciplined in our game off the ball, and understand the threats,” Lampard stated.
In a boost for Chelsea, key players Mason Mount, Thiago Silva, and Cesar Azpilicueta have all returned from injuries and participated in training sessions before the team’s departure to Madrid. N’Golo Kante, who has been sidelined for seven months due to a hamstring injury, is also making steady progress and was named on the bench for the recent game against Wolves.
The full Chelsea squad for the Real Madrid clash is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Edouard Mendy, Marcus Bettinelli
Defenders: Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marc Cucurella, Wesley Fofana
Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Mason Mount, Denis Zakaria, Conor Gallagher
Forwards: Christian Pulisic, Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz
The highly anticipated match between Chelsea and Real Madrid is scheduled for April 12th, with millions of football fans around the world eager to catch the action. For those who want to watch the game live, it will be broadcast on BT Sport in the UK, and Paramount+ in the United States. Various streaming platforms and sports channels will also offer live coverage in different regions.