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Lampard disputes claims of unfair advantage ahead of United Cup semi

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard doesn't feel their extra preparation time will give them extra adva...



Lampard disputes claims of unf...
Soccer

Lampard disputes claims of unfair advantage ahead of United Cup semi

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard doesn't feel their extra preparation time will give them extra advantage for their FA Cup semi-final with Manchester United. 

Chelsea will head to Wembley on Sunday having not played since Tuesday's 1-0 win over Norwich City.

But United were last in action 48-hours after Chelsea in their 2-0 defeat of Crystal Palace.

"There is a concern, obviously, that they’ve had 48 hours more rest and recovery than us. It’s not fair," United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Wednesday.

"We spoke about a fair scheduling going into this restart. Of course it isn’t. But I have to think about Thursday.

"We’ve got to win that one, focus on that one, and then let’s pick up the pieces after that."

But speaking ahead of Sunday's semi-final, Lampard disputed Solskjaer's claim.

"We played Saturday/Tuesday this week, they played Monday/Thursday so we have both played two games this week as it stands," Lampard told his press conference.

"We are in a period where we are playing games very regularly and you become, play, recover, play again and recover and you work with the squad as it is.

“It’s an age-old question for a lot of managers. You can probably dig out times where I have mentioned it, but at the same time it isn’t about advantage or not.

"Sometimes it is in your favour playing regularly and keep ticking over, so no I don’t see it."

Chelsea will be without N'Golo Kante for Sunday's game.

The French World Cup-winning midfielder has missed their last three games after sustaining a hamstring injury in the July 4 win over Watford.

"Other than that we have a few people with a few little niggles that I'll monitor over the next 24 hours or so," Lampard said, "And then we'll be ready to go.

"We know they are playing well, they've got a very, very potent front three, probably the most potent front three in the country, in terms of pure numbers anyway, in terms of goals.

"And obviously Fernandes has made a huge difference coming in in January. So you see the strength has brought to their team with individual quality.

"But we know that. So we have to be confident ourselves, deal with their threats, and worry about us as well."

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Chelsea Fa Cup Frank Lampard Manchester United