18th May, 2012
Frank Lampard has told Goal.com that Chelsea will have to be wary of Bayern Munich’s collective threat, and not just on Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery, if the West London outfit are to stand any chance of winning the Champions League.
Much of the pre-match talk leading up to tomorrow’s final at the Allianz Arena has focused on how the Blues plan to stop the Bavarian club’s dangerous wide-men, but the 33-year-old has other concerns, namely Toni Kroos and Bastian Schweinsteiger.
“We must try to cope with Bayern Munich’s strengths,” he told Goal.com. “It’s not just about Ribery and Robben, as you can talk about plenty of their players.
“They are also very strong as a team and we have to see how we can hurt them, especially given they have Kroos and Schweinsteiger.
“They have been two of the best midfielders in the world this season.”
Chelsea will be without suspended quarter John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles, while Luiz Gustavo, Holger Badstuber and David Alaba will miss out for the Bavarians.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger believes Chelsea’s 2008 Champions League final defeat to Manchester United will provide them with extra incentive ahead of their clash at the Allianz Arena.
The Blues were just a converted penalty away from their first ever success in Europe’s premier club competition, but John Terry’s untimely slip denied them the win as they went on to lose the shoot-out in sudden death.
Schweinsteiger believes players such as Ashley Cole, Michael Essien, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba will all be viewing the final against Bayern as their last chance to taste European success, due to their advancing years.
And the 27-year-old says this will make the Stamford Bridge outfit dangerous opponents at the Allianz Arena on May 19.
“Those players who were in Moscow for the final will have the extra motivation,” Schweinsteiger told reporters.
“They will be the most dangerous, as they know maybe it is their last chance to try to win the title they unfortunately lost there. Players like Lampard, Drogba, Ashley Cole and Michael Essien.
“Drogba is a player who can get a goal out of nothing. He is probably the most dangerous.
“I have huge respect for Lampard. Everything he does in the game has an effective use, it’s always thought through. He’s similar to Xabi Alonso in that he plays with his eyes.”