Manchester United completely dominated Chelsea, 4-0, when the two clubs first met during season opening of the Carabao Cup. The teams will clash anew at Stamford Bridge but Blues boss Frank Lampard has made clear he will not be humiliated again.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might be buoyed by the crushing defeat inflicted on Chelsea, but Lampard has now assured that the upcoming showdown will be a different story. Likely it would help that the Blues are playing before a friendly crowd.
"[The 4-0 defeat to United] feels a million miles away, but I'm not disregarding it. They hurt us four times in a game we played particularly well in," Fox Sports reported Lampard, who played midfield for Chelsea, as saying.
He added Chelsea players had been instructed to play tough for the Wednesday match, and they have been advised in advance that changes will be applied as needed.
"If players do step out of the line up with a view to the coming weeks, it's about the big picture. I understand how players are, but those who start will give everything," Lampard said.
The claim by Lampard that Chelsea is a better team now is supported by the Premier League table. According to Metro, after the first Chelsea-United duel that favored the Reds, the clubs went separate ways, and it was clear the Blues are taking on the better path.
Chelsea has been playing incredible football, winning games within the League and abroad while Solskjaer's team stumbled significantly that the Norwegian was tipped to be up for firing by the United board.
Going into the game at Stamford, Chelsea occupies the number three spot and enjoys a seven-point advantage over the Red Devils. United, on the other hand, is at the seventh slot and but a few points away from the relegation zone.
The contrasting fortunes can be explained by United's depleted roster, no thanks to lingering injuries and the departure of key players. As Solskjaer has recently admitted, the Reds sorely lack scoring power.
Not the case with the Blues. Playing on the road at Turf Moor, Chelsea players displayed might by conquering Burnley, 4-2. The win was sweetened even by the perfect hat-trick from USA international Christian Pulisic, somehow highlighting the club roster's ability to score convincing wins.
Going forward, Lampard said Chelsea is targeting all trophies that lie out there for the club to take and perhaps starting with the Carabao Cup.
"We'll target them all ... It would [be a big achievement]. A day at Wembley should never be taken lightly. But not just for the young boys - we'll give it our all," the Blues manager declared.
