Redknapp’s cousin Frank Lampard did not have a pleasant return as manager of Chelsea. The interim coach saw his team fall against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Lampard knows there is still a lot of work to be done and was advised by his uncle Harry Redknapp towards Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid.
Lampard gets advice from uncle towards Real Madrid away
Redknapp even worked for years as a manager at Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth, among others. His wife Sandra’s sister was married to Frank Lampard Sr. until her death in 2008. So Redknapp and Lampard junior know each other well. The former coach saw Chelsea lose at Wolves on Saturday and immediately recommended a change to Lampard.
Lampard fell back on a system with four defenders, which according to Redknapp does not suit his selection. “They have the perfect roster for a three-man defense with good wingbacks like Chilwell and James,” Redknapp told The Daily Mail. The former coach mainly looked at the match against Real. “You have to make sure that you don’t go down in the first game and that you keep a chance for the return.”
“Don’t go to Madrid to be slaughtered”
“Stay in the game” was Redknapp’s advice to his cousin. “If you lose by one goal, you’re still in the game. Don’t go to Madrid to be slaughtered. Keep it compact and be tough to beat. I expect a great match. Everyone expects Chelsea to lose, but they have a good chance to surprise.”
Dan Chelsea will have to play better than against Wolves on Saturday. Sky Sports analyst Paul Merson calls the Londoners’ run one of the worst in football history. Chelsea have won just four of their last 21 league matches. “This can’t be true, this is really bizarre. With so much talent in the selection and then they also bring in players with fifty international matches to their name,” he said.
Lampard, incidentally, was not to blame. “He has only been able to work with his players for a few games, but there was no pattern in the game either. If you look at Manchester City and Arsenal, you see an idea. I don’t see anything at Chelsea. There are eleven individuals on the field. No one makes dirty meters for anyone else. It’s worrying and it’s not even the managers they’ve had this season,” Merson added.
