Frank Lampard has provided a promising update on N'Golo Kante ahead of Chelsea's clash with Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final. Carlo Ancelotti's side will welcome the Blues to the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday evening as they look to pile on the misery for the visitors.
Kante was omitted from the travelling Chelsea squad to face Wolves over the weekend and, despite fears of an injury, the midfielder was rested as a precaution. The France international has only recently returned from a hamstring issue which he picked up in August.
The 32-year-old enjoyed a brief cameo off the bench against Aston Villa before leading Chelsea out against Liverpool with the captain's armband. After missing the clash at Molineux, Lampard is hopeful that Kante will be ready and raring to go in the Spanish capital as the Blues look to return to winning ways.
READ MORE: What Frank Lampard has already said on Mason Mount, Kai Havertz & Graham Potter underperformers
Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Blues' caretaker boss issued a short but simple answer when asked how confident he is that Kante will be fit enough to face Madrid. Lampard said: "I can't speak about the backroom, for some reason other than what you saw.
"You can write what you saw. N'Golo will be fine as it stands now. Managing him to be fit for the game. Not an issue."
Kante was not the only player to have been omitted from the Chelsea squad to face Wolves. Noni Madueke, Hakim Ziyech and Carney Chukwuemeka were also left out, as was Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva who are nursing injuries.
When quizzed on their absences, Lampard said: "Kante is managing one. He's fit but we know after his injury the idea of game, game, game... Azpi is nearly fit, training with us the last one or two days. Needs a little bit of fitness - but he's better.
"Mason, had a feeling in his pelvic area. Injury that he's been carrying the last two days. He trained in those two days but was struggling a little bit. Bettinelli has got a small problem, no big deal. They're the injured ones"
Following Lampard's first spell in the dugout at Stamford Bridge, the former England international heaped great praise on the Frenchman but admitted he had one issue with him. In an interview with BBC Sport, as quoted by the Metro, Lampard said: "When I arrived at Chelsea he’d been off the back of playing so regularly for a few seasons because everyone relies on him so much, he’d had an injury that took him into my first season, we missed him a lot.
"You seriously miss N’Golo in big games because he’s a big-game player. Nobody will want to play against him because of the attributes he’s got. In those big games, finals, tournament football, players like N’Golo are just priceless.
"The main reason why he’s so good that he’s the best in the world at being a destructor. When I say destructor I’m talking about winning the ball back. To win the ball back with his anticipation, having the speed to get tight and close distances, his main attribute for me is destruction, leaving areas to win balls back.
"An old-fashioned holding midfield player you’d say would sit in front of the back four, Makelele did it years ago for Chelsea so well," the Chelsea caretaker boss added. "But he has so much more to his game. When you see the distances he closes to get in front of people, that acceleration and speed, that is something special to him, it’s very unique.
"I got asked it a lot [about playing him as a strict defensive midfielder], my feeling was that he had so many attributes that were more than just that, I was holding him back by saying, ‘please just sit there'."
READ NEXT:
Confirmed Chelsea starting lineup vs Wolves as Lampard starts Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount out
Frank Lampard has already promised what he won't do again at Chelsea
Wolves vs Chelsea LIVE: Confirmed team news as Gallagher starts, Mount and Kante out
Wolves vs Chelsea TV channel, live stream and how to watch Premier League
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Joao Felix warning, Pep Guardiola message, Carlo Ancelotti plan
