https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/07/31/
frank-lampard-press-conference-ahead-of-the-fa-cup-final-against
Kante and Willian fit for the Cup final but midfielder misses out
31 Jul 2020
N'Golo Kante and Willian will be available for selection for the Heads Up
FA Cup final in a boost to Chelsea's hopes of ending the campaign with
silverware, though Ruben Loftus-Cheek misses out with injury.
https://i.imgur.com/VQmuDyD.jpg
The news was delivered by Frank Lampard at his video press conference to
preview tomorrow's Cup final at Wembley, which sees the Blues take on
Arsenal for the final domestic trophy of the season.
Kante has not featured since the start of the month when he came off early
in our home victory against Watford with a hamstring injury, while Willian
was absent for our Champions League qualification-clinching win over
Wolves last weekend.
'N'Golo Kante and Willian are in the squad so we'll see if they're fit to
be in the starting 11,' reported the boss.
https://i.imgur.com/Lh7JKKB.jpg
Willian is in contention to feature in the Cup final after missing last
weekend's win against Wolves
However, there was less positive news about the fitness of another
midfield player.
'Ruben Loftus-Cheek has a small problem he picked up yesterday so he's out
of the game,' said Lampard.
While Chelsea beat Manchester United in the semi-final a fortnight ago,
the Gunners booked their place in the final with a surprise victory over
Manchester City the day before. However, Lampard himself was not too
shocked about Arsenal's ability to win such a big game.
'I wasn't surprised that they won the game,' he said. 'Man City were
probably most people's favourites - they are in pretty much every game
they play but I knew with the collective and individual talent Arsenal
have that they had the capabilities to win a game like that.
https://i.imgur.com/8PhNJ6V.jpg
Lampard on what winning a trophy in his first season would mean
'It's a game I've paid close attention to but every game is different.
They've had other results recently and played in different formations so
we have to be ready for any eventuality but we also have to know that
Arsenal are going to be a very tough match.'
Lampard believes that Mikel Arteta, a Premier League manager with the
novelty of being even younger than the Blues boss, has made positive
strides in his short spell in charge at the Emirates so far.
'I think he's done a really good job since he's been there,' he added. 'I
know that feeling of trying to lay down messages, keep trying to drill
things home, make relationships and see where you want the club to be
taken forward. From the outside, I've got big respect for the way he's
done his job.'
Just like last season when the two capital rivals faced off in the Europa
League final in Baku, there is not just a trophy at stake for Arsenal, who
could secure European football next season with a win in tomorrow's final,
having not done so with their eighth-place finish in the league.
Lampard is unsure whether that will be a help or a hindrance to their
preparations as he focuses solely on keeping his players motivated on
their objective of lifting silverware.
'I'm not sure what pressure it adds in terms of whether it becomes a
positive or a negative,' he said. 'That's their problem as far as I'm
concerned and it's a good problem for them because they can get into
Europe via the game.
'We must make sure that our mentality, whether we've qualified for the
Champions League or not last week, is not affected negatively in any way
from that. This is a game that means a lot to us. It means everything to
us.'