Chelsea star Wesley Fofana has revealed what caretaker manager Frank Lampard told players upon his return to Stamford Bridge after replacing Graham Potter in the dugout. The French defender was signed from Leicester in a £75million deal last summer but has been hampered by injuries in his debut season.
The Blues have not shown any signs of improving despite the change in manager with Lampard overseeing three straight defeats in all competitions. Chelsea are currently sat 11th in the Premier League table, 12 points above the relegation zone and a further 19 points adrift of the top four.
The west Londoners' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League semi-finals look bleak after suffering a 2-0 defeat against Real Madrid in their quarter-final first leg clash at the Santiago Bernabeu. Fofana was criticised for his performance against the Champions League holders but is remaining positive about the Blues' chances of booking their place in the last-four.
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Lampard has lost three games in all competitions since the start of his second stint in charge and now Fofana has revealed what the Blues' legend told the players in his first meeting with them after returning to Stamford Bridge. Speaking to Telefoot, Fofana said: "He [Frank Lampard] was welcomed back in the best way possible, because he’s Mr. Frank Lampard.
"He’s a club legend. He told us to get our confidence back, and play simple football again - to get back to the basics, really.
"His words moved us all, because it’s what we needed, to get our confidence back and to realise that we’re fighting for a club. We’re fighting for a great club."
The French defender is remaining optimistic about the team’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League semi-finals, despite a 2-0 defeat in the first-leg of their quarter-final against Real Madrid. Fofana continued: "Chelsea have already done it after a difficult season before, with a new coach arriving.
"They won it in 2021. So I think it’s possible, it’s in the club’s DNA. We’ve had a bad season, we know that. Now it’s up to us to show what we’re capable of. There is quality in this squad."
When asked about his thoughts on the huge fee that saw him swap Leicester for west London this summer, the 22-year-old explained that he doesn’t see his luctrative transfer as a source of pressure. Fofana added: “I’m trying to see the good side to it - I’m a Chelsea player, I will give my life for this club.”
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