Chelsea vs Ajax - Frank Lampard expects Ajax to be more dangerous at Stamford Bridge

Posted Tuesday, November 05, 2019 by PA

Frank Lampard has warned Chelsea he expects an even tougher encounter with Ajax than they faced in Amsterdam.

The Blues registered arguably their finest result under Lampard when they beat last season’s Champions League semi-finalists 1-0 last month.

Michy Batshuayi’s late strike drew Chelsea level with the Dutch champions at the top of Group H, and another win on Tuesday night would leave them with one foot in the next round.

However, Lampard said: “I wouldn’t like to say that until that foot is officially in the next round.

“I said at the start that this group would be tight because all the teams could take points off each other. That has been proved to be correct.

“We’ve had two good results and another one would be great for us with two games left, but we must understand that even though we are at home now, the quality and the danger from Ajax is as much, if not more, than the game we played away because they are such a good, technical team.

“After losing the opening game against Valencia, which was disappointing, we have shown a great reaction from that.

“I have to accept it’s expected of Chelsea to go through and that is no disrespect to any other teams. I have said already how hard the group is but it is more about our own expectations.

“That is maybe why we had that reaction. We wanted to prove ourselves, we wanted to go to Ajax and Lille and get results, and we did.

“But we won’t get carried away with ourselves in this group.”

Ajax go into the game with speculation over the future of coach Erik Ten Hag – though he committed himself to the club after being linked with Bayern Munich as a replacement for the departed Niko Kovac.

Ten Hag, a former Bayern reserve coach under Pep Guardiola, has won the Eredivisie, the Dutch Super Cup and KNVB Cup with Ajax as well as guiding them to the Champions League semi-finals last season.

He said: “Bayern is a fantastic club, it is still in my heart, but I am at Ajax.

“I’m not a dreamer. I focus on Ajax and live for today and tomorrow’s game, which is important.”

Looking ahead to the Stamford Bridge clash, he said: “It’s going to be difficult but every game is difficult.

“We trust in ourselves. We are looking forward to this challenge. We know we have to play perfect and get the best performance, and then we have a chance.”