12 April 2023 , 11:03
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Joe Cole believes the gap between Chelsea and Real Madrid 'is not as big as people think' - but has called for perspective over the club's Champions League hopes.
Caretaker boss Frank Lampard has the chance to rewrite his story in Europe as a Chelsea manager after being sacked before Thomas Tuchel inspired the Blues to glory in 2021.
But Lampard faces a mountainous task with a misfiring squad to knock out the Spanish giants and make inroads into salvaging a disastrous season.
The Blues drifted into mid table irrelevance in the league under Graham Potter and Lampard must revive his goal-shy team to avoid a crushing end to a disastrous campaign at the hands of the current champions.
Winless in four and blunt in attack, Chelsea are in need of inspiration in Madrid but former midfielder Cole believes the chasm with Los Blancos has been exaggerated in the build-up to Wednesday's quarter-final first leg at the Bernabeu.
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"It’s a tall order for Chelsea, but I don’t think the gap is as big as people think,’ Cole told BT Sport.
And when asked if Lampard can get more out of his players, Cole asserted: "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."
Lampard faces a daunting task at the Bernabeu (Europa Press via Getty Images)Lampard has cited his unlikely Champions League triumph under Roberto Di Matteo during his worst season at Chelsea in 2012 in a bid to inspire his players with the belief that they can replicate that incredible feat.
“Frank talked with the group a bit and he told us to keep our heads straight,” record-signing Enzo Fernández revealed.
“Chelsea is a club with a huge history. He told us he won the Champions League in 2012 and he mentioned it was in his worst moment at Chelsea. A great example for us.”