Frank Lampard admits Chelsea are 'lacking belief' after Real Madrid defeat
By Tom Gott
Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard has admitted the Blues are struggling with self-confidence after Wednesday's 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The Blues, who ended the game with ten men after Ben Chilwell's second-half red card, were comprehensively beaten and fortunate to only concede twice through Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio either side of the half-time break.
It was another poor performance from Chelsea, who have now failed to score in four consecutive games for the first time since December 1993, and Lampard admitted that belief among the squad is low.
"There was a lot there for us, I felt," he told BT Sport. "As good a team as they are, but I could see a moment where the players...it's been a difficult period for them.
"There's a little bit of a lack of belief. I think the players have got to understand how good they are, and what they can do, and maybe we're a bit short on that at the minute, and it's not easy to come here like that."
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Despite the tricky situation, Lampard urged both his players and the fans to remain positive about Chelsea's chances of advancing.
"I don't think, with ten men, that they carved us open," Lampard said. "At that time in the game, we had our chances. We had three pretty good chances: Joao [Felix] early, Raheem [Sterling], Mason [Mount] near the end.
"There were some good things, but the result is the reality, but I've just said to the players that special things can happen at Stamford Bridge. They're a very good team, but we have to believe."
He continued: "There's some details in our game, and we have to understand there's some mindset stuff to be much more positive in what we're doing. If we can do that...I've been involved in those nights at Stamford Bridge."
Chelsea must face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday before the second leg, with Real due at the Bridge the following Tuesday.
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