In an exclusive interview with Chelsea TV, Frank Lampard has given his reaction to the Champions League round of 16 draw, which pitted us against Bayern Munich earlier today.
The boss spoke exclusively to our cameras in the Stamford Bridge dressing room today to preview our forthcoming double-header against the German giants, who we of course met in the 2012 final, as well as the 2005 quarter-final.
Lampard played in all three of those games but, as he explains in the video above, while they bring back amazing memories they will not have a bearing on the latest meeting between the sides.
‘It’s a tough draw, but a good draw. We knew that when we get through the group stages, you’re generally in with some big teams and we have certainly drawn one.
'We have history with them, of course, but these will be games in themselves that will be very testing. We will be ready for the challenge.'
Re-live 2012 with our Inside Munich Champions League Year video - one of our new box sets available exclusively on The 5th Stand
The draw was made this morning in Switzerland and pitted us against the German champions for the first time in seven years. Our most recent meeting was in the 2013 Super Cup when Fernando Torres and Eden Hazard scored in a 2-2 draw before we were beaten on penalties. Prior to that, it was that memorable May night at the Allianz Arena when Didier Drogba’s bullet header and famous decisive spot-kick saw us crowned European champions.
The two teams also met in the 2004/05 Champions League quarter-final, which Lampard references above.
The Blues booked their place in the round of 16 following an eventful group-stage campaign that saw last season’s semi-finalists Ajax eliminated from Group H. We won in Amsterdam and Lille following an opening-day defeat at home to Valencia, before a victory over the Frenchmen in SW6 last week secured our progress.
Bayern meanwhile topped Group B with a 100 per cent winning record, beating Tottenham home and away, and averaging four goals a game.
The draw in full is:
Borussia Dortmund vs Paris Saint-GermainReal Madrid vs Manchester CityAtalanta vs ValenciaAtletico Madrid vs LiverpoolChelsea vs Bayern MunichLyon vs JuventusTottenham vs RB LeipzigNapoli vs Barcelona