This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has emphasized the importance of home advantage in the upcoming Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester United, which will take place on the week commencing October 28.
Chelsea thrashed Grimsby 7-1 on Wednesday, securing Lampard's first victory at Stamford Bridge since taking charge in July. The win marked a significant milestone for Lampard, who spent the bulk of his playing career at the club.
Manchester United, who have struggled to find form since beating Chelsea 4-0 on the opening weekend of the season, edged past League One Rochdale in a penalty shootout at Old Trafford.
‘I was just watching the penalties. It’s a big draw, two big teams and I’m pleased we’re at home. We’ll see,’ Lampard said, highlighting the significance of the tie.
Lampard acknowledged that Manchester United have good players and that the next round is not a guarantee. He also praised the performance of his team, saying, ‘The beauty of what we did on Wednesday night was make the game look pretty easy.’
However, he warned that these games can be tough and that Manchester United will bring a strong team to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's 7-1 victory over Grimsby saw Ross Barkley open the scoring, followed by a brace from Michy Batshuayi, a penalty from Pedro, and goals from Kurt Zouma, Reece James, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The bigger picture was Lampard handing debuts to four academy graduates, including a first start for Billy Gilmour, who impressed in midfield. Fellow rookies James and Marc Guehi also made an impact, while Hudson-Odoi made a welcome return after an Achilles injury in April.
After sending on two more debutants as substitutes, Tino Anjorin and Ian Maatsen, the Blues finished the night with six academy starlets on the pitch.
‘I’m pleased some players who have not been playing so many minutes played, there were some debuts, and the young lads who came on improved the team which was nice,’ Lampard added.
