Lampard given injury boost as Thiago Silva returns to Chelsea training
Frank Lampard is given a MAJOR injury boost as Thiago Silva returns to Chelsea training having been sidelined since February with knee problem as caretaker coach prepares for Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid
- Thiago Silva has been unavailable since February after picking up a knee injury
- The 38-year-old Chelsea centre back has now returned to first team training
- His return comes just days before the Blues’ Champions League quarter final
Chelsea have been given a major lift ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarter final with Real Madrid as Thiago Silva has returned to first team training.
The 38-year-old has been unavailable since picking up a knee injury since February but is now returning to full fitness.
It is not yet clear if the centre back will be back in time to start the quarter final but he did appear to be taking a full role in training.
When fit, Silva has been among the Blues’ most reliable players this season. He remains a useful set piece player at both ends of the pitch and was a key part of the Chelsea side that won the UCL in 2021.
The Blues have endured a woeful run of form in his absence. They have picked up just one point and no goals in their past three games, and the arrival of Frank Lampard as interim coach appeared to make little difference on Saturday as they lost 1-0 to Wolves.
Thiago Silva has returned to Chelsea training after being unavailable with a knee injury since February
Chelsea have slid to 11th in the Premier League after losing 1-0 to Wolves in their first game under interim boss Frank Lampard
They now sit 11th in the league, and in points terms closer to the relegation zone than to the top four.
Chelsea have twice won the Champions League as underdogs, though, and Lampard was confident his side would not roll over against Real.
‘If you are worried don’t come’, he said to fans lacking belief in the West London side. ‘The players shouldn’t be. I’m not saying the squad doesn’t have that aggression, it’s just bringing it together. Wednesday will be a completely different game.
‘I’m very happy to be back. We have a huge game waiting for us on Wednesday where everything changes.’
Lampard insisted his side’s Champions League clash this Wednesday will be ‘a completely different game’
They will face defending champions Real Madrid in the first leg of their quarter final
On his return to the club that sacked him just two years ago, Lampard said: ‘It’s a big task managing Chelsea, we know we’re not in a position we want to be in. There’s always a reason for it.
‘I didn’t expect to solve everything in one day. You have to have more aggression in your game, more speed and more competitive duels which go your way.
‘The players need to be aware of that because without that you can’t win games. It was interesting to see anyway, I’m here to help with that. It’s not stinging criticism, I know there’s a lot of talent there.’
The Blues will next be in Premier League action against Brighton next Saturday.
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