While Chelsea’s 2012 team was packed with leaders at their peak, the current crop appear low on the sort of standard-raising, responsibility-taking types required right now. The side he was part of dug in and ‘parked the bus at the Nou Camp to hang on for our dear lives,’ en route to glory.įate was on their side, Lampard admitted, ‘but we did have a huge desire and a big character’ to go with the drive of a squad pursuing a trophy that had become their Holy Grail.

After seeing a disjointed, goal-shy and at times squabbling side overpowered and deservedly defeated by Wolves, Lampard highlighted the missing ‘baseline’ qualities such as aggression, speed, desire to win competitive duels, and warned that talent alone is not enough. But in discussing how they did it there were lessons from Lampard.

They won the 2012 Champions League with an interim boss, and need history to repeat itself if they are to get past defending champions Real Madrid in this year's quarter-finalsĬaretaker Lampard was reluctant to make comparisons to his time 11 years ago.

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