Lampard urges concentration and focus ahead of Valencia tie

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has urged ‘concentration and focus’ from his side ahead of a crucial Champions League meeting with Valencia.

Lampard’s side head to Spain this evening to take on Valencia at the Mestalla, in a fixture which will have huge implications on their hopes of securing qualification for the knockout stages.

Chelsea are currently embroiled in a three-way tie at the top of Group H with this evening’s opponents and Ajax, each side locked together on seven points with two fixtures remaining of the group stage.

Valencia secured a 1-0 victory at Stamford Bridge in the opening fixture of the group, though Lampard believes his side were the better side on that occasion and has urged his side to focus as they bid to take a huge step towards the last-16.

Speaking on the reverse fixture, Lampard told his pre-match press conference: “I felt we were the better team,

“My major feeling after the first game is the lesson that will always be there, whether you’re 18 or 32, is that if you sleep for one moment at Champions League level you can lose a game.

“We will have to take every bit of concentration and focus into this game. The rules always remain the same, particularly when you’re travelling in the Champions League, particularly when you come to a stadium like this which is a fantastic stadium to play football, but can be a very difficult one when you’re the opposition coming here.”

Read: Lampard dubs Valencia clash a “must not-lose game”