Redknapp advises Lampard: “Don’t get hammered at the Bernabéu”
Ex-Tottenham coach and Frank Lampard’s uncle, Harry Redknapp has some advice for his nephew on how Chelsea should approach the Champions League quarter final against Real Madrid.
Some people might that Frank Lampard has given himself more trouble than it’s worth by taking on the Chelsea job at this point in the season. His first game in charge, against Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves at the weekend, ended in defeat - the team’s 11th in the Premier League, where they lie in the bottom half of the table in 11th place. This week, Lampard’s men will face possibly the toughest test of the season so far - they take on defending European champions Real Madrid in the quarter finals of the Champions League, with the first leg at the Bernabéu.
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Perhaps that’s why Harry Redknapp, a vastly more experienced manager, has taken it on himself to advise Lampard ahead of his next game. Redknapp, who is also Lampard’s uncle, knows how daunting it can be for teams visiting the Bernabéu - his Tottenham side were thrashed 4-0 at the Whites’ coliseum 12 years ago - a result which they had to take back to London by which time the tie was already over. Faced with an almost impossible task of overturning the tie, Spurs ended up losing the second leg 0-1 at White Hart Lane.
Keep it tight
Redknapp hopes that his nephew can take something from that experience and give his Chelsea a fighting chance by not allowing Madrid to run away with the tie - a low scoreline at the Bernabéu, even if that means defending for 90 minutes, might be more effective than trying to beat Ancelotti’s team on home turf. Redknapp believes that Chelsea have to take a conservative approach to the first leg to boost their options for the return at Stamford Bridge: “I think they’re perfectly set to set up three up the back with [great] wing backs Chillwell and James; you’ve got centre halves galore. I think they’re well set up to play that way because they’ve got to make sure they stay in the game first and foremost and give themselves a chance when they go back to Stamford Bridge,” he explained. “Stay in the game. If you get beat by the odd goal, you’re in the game. Don’t go over there and get hammered. Make it tight, keep it tight, be difficult to beat. What a great game to have. Everyone expects them to lose, Chelsea have got a big chance.