UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Chelsea FClikely to be without Frank Lampard for Manchester United FC clash

Record ID: 1538202

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Chelsea FClikely to be without Frank Lampard for Manchester United FC clash
  • Date: 27th April 2008
  • Summary: COBHAM, NEAR LONDON, UK (APRIL 25, 2008) (Soundbite) (English) CHELSEA MANAGER AVRAM GRANT SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE ABOUT FRANK LAMPARD: "He didn't train today and I can tell you that all our thoughts are with him. We are a close family here at Chelsea and we have all our sympathy for Frank and his family and we want to work so that when Frank comes back we'll still be there fighting." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (Soundbite) (English) GRANT: "We have a big game tomorrow against Manchester United. We are happy that we are still in the race for the championship. It's a big game anyway - our home. We want to win." "No, I think we did what we wanted to with Liverpool but that was something else. In Liverpool we played in the Champion's League, semi final, away from home at Anfield, which is difficult. We did what we need to do. I think the game was good for us and now there is another game. Manchester United also played away on Wednesday night so I don't think you can take the game from Tuesday or Wednesday and say it will be the same tomorrow." WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE (Soundbite) (English) GRANT: "The pressure is good. I hope I will have it all my life, a week like this. But I say I think it's an exciting week for everybody. We worked hard to come to this situation - we want to enjoy it."
  • Embargoed: 12th May 2008 08:39
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA17LJMH9QXYNJFL3R21RG6Y23Y
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Chelsea manager Avram Grant will let midfielder Frank Lampard decide whether he wants to play in Saturday's important Premier League match against Manchester United, two days after the death of his mother.

    "Frank's situation is that he didn't train today and all our thoughts are with him," the Israeli manager told a news conference on Friday (April 25).

    "I'm not sure whether he will play (on Saturday), you need to ask him. Football is important but there are obviously more important things.

    "We are a very close family at Chelsea and we all have sympathy for Frank and his family. We want to make sure that whenever he comes back we will still be fighting for trophies."
    Pat Lampard, 58, died of pneumonia on Thursday, leaving her son devastated ahead of a big week for his side.
    Chelsea need to beat league leaders United at Stamford Bridge to draw level on points with the champions and maintain their title hopes.
    On Wednesday, they entertain Liverpool in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final which is delicately poised at 1-1.
    Having missed the London club's previous two league matches, Lampard left his mother's bedside to play in Tuesday's first leg at Anfield, but put in a subdued performance.
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