Speaking to Chelsea reporters, club caretaker Frank Lampard emphasized the challenge posed by Manchester City striker Erling Haaland as a significant hurdle to face at the Etihad Stadium.
The Blues are set to face the Premier League leaders for their next match on May 20. After a rather challenging season due to new ownership, hectic managerial decisions and an overcrowded dressing room, the London Blues are sitting in the 11th place in the table with 43 points.
Lampard expressed great admiration for Haaland and disclosed that he had attempted to secure his signature before.
'I’ve got huge respect for him, he’s a player I tried to bring to Chelsea the first time I was here. Obviously, that couldn’t happen, but his level at that point was very clear as well, we played against him in a pre-season game with Salzburg and he was fantastic.
According to the Englishman, the 22-year-old is a special player with an exceptional personality and "level of hunger to play".
Going back to the topic of signing such a striker at Stamford Bridge, Lampard says that it would require big plans and ideas to attract them. Haaland is the kind of a player that can make things happen at any moment, so the Blues' manager is sure that it is something that as an opponent, they need to be aware of.
After winless consecutive matches, Chelsea celebrated their first win in a while, against Bournemouth on May 6 and concluded a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest.