Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti feels that Federico Valverde is a player similar to former Chelsea midfielder and current caretaker manager Frank Lampard in his current form.
this comes before The whites take on the Blues in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday (April 12).
Ancelotti believes that both Frank Lampard and Federico Valverde share some similarities in their style of play and the position in which they play. The Italian strategist, however, argued that the style of play also varies from what the coach wants the midfielder to do on the field.
Speaking to Sky Sports Italia (via Soccer Italy), the Real Madrid coach said the following:
“It is difficult but Valverde is another boxer with similar characteristics. However, he also depends on what a coach demands and I don’t ask him to do the same things as Lampard”.
It’s worth mentioning that Frank Lampard played under Carlo Ancelotti during the Italian’s reign as Chelsea manager from 2009 to 2011. Ancelotti guided the Blues to a Premier League and FA Cup double in his first year in charge of the club.
The Real Madrid coach recalled Lampard’s contribution during his time at Stamford Bridge and said:
“Lampard was a great player, a modern midfielder. He scored a lot of goals because he had a unique ability to find space in the box with his late runs. An exemplary professional. I have great memories of him. He was a key player in my two years at Chelsea.”
Real Madrid clinched a place in the Champions League quarter-finals by securing a 6-2 aggregate win over Liverpool in the round of 16 stage.
Chelsea, then managed by Graham Potter, beat German Borussia Dortmund in the previous round. They clinched a narrow 2-1 aggregate victory over the Bundesliga side.
The Blues, however, decided to part ways with Graham Potter after a slump in the Premier League. The club has opted to hire former player and manager Frank Lampard on an interim basis before naming a permanent manager for the 2023-24 season.
Who will Chelsea or Real Madrid face in the Champions League semi-finals?
Either Chelsea or Real Madrid will face Manchester City or Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals this season. However, at the time of writing, it appears that Pep Guardiola’s team could be their opponent.
Manchester City secured a resounding 3-0 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarter-final on Tuesday (April 11) at the Etihad Stadium. Therefore, Thomas Tuchel’s side will require a monumental effort to overcome the deficit at the Allianz Arena within a week.