Frank Lampard compares Derby’s play-off final match to Chelsea securing Champions League football in 2003

Frank Lampard compares Derby’s play-off final match to Chelsea securing Champions League football in 2003
Frank Lampard has compared Derby’s play-off final showdown to Chelsea’s crucial Champions League qualification which changed the course of the club’s future.The Rams play Aston Villa in Monday’s Championship play-off final, which is worth an estimated 170million.getty2

Frank Lampard’s Derby take on Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final

In 2003, Lampard’s Chelsea faced Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, with the game labelled ‘the 20million match’ as the winners would qualify for the Champions League.Chelsea won 2-1 to finish fourth but without Champions League football Roman Abramovich may not have bought the club, who have won five Premier League titles since and the Champions League.Ahead of the Wembley clash with Villa, Lampard has drawn similarities to that key game 16 years ago.He said: “If I can match it to something it will be the Chelsea game we played a long time ago just before Abramovich came to the club.“We had a game against Liverpool to make it to the Champions League. If we lost that game the club was in real trouble, and if we won then things would change. Although we didn’t quite know how well they would change. “There was tension before that game among the players but I don’t feel that here. It’s a crucial game for the club but what I’ve tried to do is take that away from the players.“I just want them to think about a football match. The lads don’t need to think about 170million, they don’t need to think about next year or their holidays. They just need to think about Monday.”Derby, who beat Leeds 4-2 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals, last made the final in 2014 when they suffered a heartbreaking late 1-0 defeat to QPR.Lampard regularly played at the national stadium for England but admitted it will still have an impact on the players.getty2

Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in May 2003

“It’s the size of the stadium, it’s what it means, it’s the fans, it’s the feeling, the way your belly will turn over when you get there,” he said.“That stayed with me many times. It doesn’t go away just because you’ve played so many games. Every player needs to find their own way to manage it.”It is Lampard’s first season as a manager after being appointed last summer by owner Mel Morris.Chairman Morris has previously been criticised for his handling of managers but Lampard has no problems.“Before I came to the club a lot of people had a story about Mel but there’s never been a truer thing than ‘take as you find’,” he said.“He has put so much into the club. To see him on the pitch at Leeds, it’s clear what drives Mel.“He is desperate to get this club to the Premier League.”

---

Millwall have closed a section of The Den after racism and violence at FA Cup game against Everton, reveals CEO Steve Kavanagh Written by: fpnews Posted on: February 6, 2019 Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh has told talkSPORT the club have closed a section of The Den in a bid to rid the club of problematic supporters.
Lions' CEO Steve Kavanagh responds to suggestions the club
sportsalert.org/2019/01/28/lions-ceo-steve-kavanagh-responds-to-suggestions-the-club-should-change-its-name-to-fix-bad-reputation/
SOUTH LONDON LIONS? Kavanagh joined talkSPORT days after the shocking scenes of racism and violence which marred the Championship club's fantastic FA Cup win against Everton Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh has shut down suggestions the Lions should be re-branded in an attempt to stop the negative connotations connected with the club.
Millwall have closed a section of The Den after racism and

---

Arsenal will face London rivals Chelsea in the Europa League final in Baku, Azerbaijan Thomas Cook are offering Chelsea fans a day trip to Baku for a staggering £979.00
Arsenal news : Chelsea and Arsenal fans face nightmare 2,850

---

Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente says he would be

---

Harry Kane: 'Difficult' for Tottenham striker to play again this season admits Mauricio Pochettino. Kane suffered significant lateral ligament damage to his left ankle during Tuesday's Champions
Harry Kane: 'Difficult' for Tottenham striker to play again

---

N'Golo Kante is renowned as being one of the nicest guys in football, but it seems even he has one crucial flaw. The Mini-driving Chelsea midfielder is notoriously shy and chooses to shun away from the celebrity lifestyle associated with being a footballer. 2 Kante (R) is a fan []Click here to view original web page at talksport.com
New jumper, please! Andy Murray's miffed with sweater but

---

Record-breaking Aston Villa will take some stopping in the

---

Injured Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy was chased by stewards who thought he was a pitch invader after their 2-1 win over Liverpool on Thursday. Mendy has been recovering from knee
Benjamin Mendy chased by Manchester City stewards who thought

---

Leonardo Bonucci has defended his astonishing claim that Juventus team-mate Moise Kean provoked the racist abuse he was subjected to on Tuesday night. Kean was targeted by Cagliari fans throughout
controversial Archives - SportsAlert

---

Thierry Henry: Monaco boss' awful record laid bare as Arsenal

---

Reece James: What those in the know say about the Chelsea loanee who has starred for Wigan in the Championship this season James has even emerged as a transfer target for Manchester United due to
What those in the know say about the Chelsea loanee who has
sportsalert.org/2019/04/24/what-those-in-the-know-say-about-the-chelsea-loanee-who-has-starred-for-wigan-in-the-championship-this-season/
Reece James has been one of the stars of the Championship this season where the young Chelsea defender has excelled during his season-long loan spell at Wigan. James, 19, is highly regarded at Stamford Bridge and is set for a bright future in the game.
Chelsea loanee Reece James to be given Wigan captaincy during

---

Liverpool news: Fabinho's wife lifts lid on shock transfer rumours ahead of PSG clash LIVERPOOL star Fabinho has been linked with a shock switch to Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the Champions
PSG will use Liverpool Champions League clash to open

---

All Football. All Football Players who love winding rivals up including Dele Alli and Scott Brown 15 former PL players starring in MLS, including ex-Arsenal, Liverpool and United men
Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur confirmed teams: Son starts on

---