Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has warned that he and his teammates are out to spoil Frank Lampard’s Stamford Bridge return on Saturday.
According to Soccernet, Lampard will be back at Chelsea for the first time since leaving for New York City FC – but then joining Manchester City on loan for the season – in the summer.
The midfielder became Chelsea’s all-time record scorer and won three league titles, four FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League in a 13-year spell after moving from West Ham in 2001.
Lampard, 36, scored a late equaliser as City and Chelsea drew 1-1 at the Etihad earlier this season – but Hazard knows that, with Chelsea able to go eight points clear of the champions if they win, there is no room for sentiment.
“For him it is going to be one of the best moments of his career,” he said. “But we have to win, unfortunately for him. It will be a good game.
“If we win on Saturday, it will be very good. We have led by eight points before. The season is still long, but we will be in with a good opportunity to win the title.”
Meanwhile, The Times reported that Chelsea would not be making any presentation to Lampard to mark his hugely successful time as a Chelsea player.
The west London club had previously made such presentations to both Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack when they returned with other clubs.