Frank Lampard has high hopes for the role Raheem Sterling could play before the end of the season and believes he has the pedigree to put in a performance that could set down a marker against Real Madrid.
Chelsea's summer signing has not truly flourished in Chelsea colours and struggled to make an impact in Saturday's defeat against Wolves. The winger made his first start since returning from injury at Molineux having struggled with a hamstring injury in 2023.
Despite both his and Chelsea's struggles, Sterling has managed seven goals in 29 games for the Blues but worryingly only two have come since the World Cup break and the former Man City star managed four strikes before the end of September. Nevertheless, Lampard holds Sterling in high regard.
READ MORE: Four things learned as Kalidou Koulibaly moment shows Frank Lampard's damning Chelsea task
The Blues boss has used him as a standard-bearer across his coaching career and can now rely on the winger to help shape the team moving forward. Lampard plans to have more conversations with Sterling in the coming weeks.
He explained: "I think he's a fantastic player. He's been one of the best wingers in the world for a long time, at times, maybe in some people's opinion, the best. I can't remember how many times I've referenced to young wingers when I was here previously at Chelsea, at Derby and Everton actually - watch Raheem Sterling and see why he scores 20 goals a season plus so I have the highest feeling for him in that sense.
"I've spoken to him a little bit in the last couple of days [and] we also have to get the right team structure to make it best for the players and then drive them, and of course I’ve only been here a couple of days, to get the best out of them so I'll speak to Raheem more. I just think he's a top player Those things are always kind of like 50/50 for me – getting the right structure for the player and then the player themselves but Raheem has shown what a player he is."
Real Madrid await for Lampard's second test as Chelsea boss and he believes it is an occasion in which Sterling can stand up to be counted.
He added: "Possibly, I haven’t watched every Chelsea game this season, at times I was obviously doing my thing, but he certainly is a player of a high level and a high competence level and understanding of the game that it won’t faze him. In fact, he's risen to games like that before in the past so that's something we'll obviously rely on in terms of this because some elements of the squad are maybe a bit younger. Raheem has been there and done it and there’s history of producing."
In 2012, Chelsea found themselves in a difficult position and under a new manager but managed to force their way to a Champions League trophy. However, this is a collection of players a different place in their journey and a group that Lampard has had little time to get to know.
There has been limited time for Lampard to get a feel of his squad or to interact with individuals. However, Lampard has found a degree of familiarity with Chelsea's owners and directors in Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and he has been impressed with the project, though that may provide little solace in Madrid.
He said: "There's a lot to it. Part of that was we parked the bus at the Nou Camp and managed to hang on for our dear lives! There are so many things, fate in different moments. But we did have a huge desire and a big character and a level of talent in the in the group that have been striving for years to win a Champions League, so that one you remember.
"The one you don't remember is when we got knocked out in the semi-final or the quarter-final by Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge, things like that. So a team and a group will always go through tough moments to get to great and of course now with a team we're putting together everyone understands that we're not in that sort of position now. we're actually in a different position where we're trying or the club are trying to put something together with great intention. Speaking to the owners and with Laurence and Paul, I’m really impressed with the intention. So we’re not in that position but we have an opportunity against a fantastic team and we have to attempt to make the most of the opportunity and go there with confidence and go there with a belief because otherwise, as I said, there if you don't turn up... and that’s where we’re at but I think it will be hard to compare [going back] to the original question to previous years gone by."
READ MORE:
Every word Frank Lampard said on Mason Mount, N'Golo Kante injury, Chelsea aggression and Wolves
Chelsea player ratings as Kai Havertz flounders, Raheem Sterling struggles in dire Wolves loss
Wolves vs Chelsea highlights as Matheus Nunes wonder-strike separates sides
Chelsea release statement following homophobic chants in defeat to Wolves
Chelsea fans all say the same thing after 'horrible' foul on Joao Felix not given red card
