Frank Lampard has just held his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s Champions League group stage game against Ajax, and if his players were hoping for hints about who was going to start the crucial away tie, they will have come away disappointed.
Most of the team picks itself, and unless Lampard feels players need a rest, he will likely go with his established first team from the league. Christian Pulisic will be hoping to get a start however, having come on and impressed in recent games.
Lampard was asked about whether he had impressed in training but someone hoping to tease out some information about who might be picked, but he gave nothing away in his response, as recorded here by Nizaar Kinsella:
Lampard on Pulisic fighting for a spot tomorrow: "Good, as I want from all the players. Callum gave me that from his display from the start. Willian gives me that. Pedro gives me that. I was really pleased for Christian to come on and make an impact." #CFC #UCL
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) October 22, 2019
Asked in a similar vein about Hudson-Odoi’s chances of featuring, he equally refused to be drawn:
Lampard says Hudson-Odoi is ready to start a Champions League game but there's 'no guarentees' #CFC #UCL
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) October 22, 2019
Hudson-Odoi has been fantastic but seems like a good candidate for a rest given he’s only just come back from a long term injury and is just 18. He played twice last week, is he ready to play twice again this week?
It will come down to Frank’s call, but until that teamsheet is in, the rest of us are in the dark.
