Frank Lampard says he is ‘happy’ with Chelsea’s Champions League draw but has warned his squad they cannot afford to be complacent ahead of the competition.
The Premier League club will face Europa League winners Sevilla, Krasnodar and debutants Rennes in the group stages of the Champions League.
Lampard admits he was ‘happy’ with the outcome of the draw but has warned his players against complacency ahead of their first Champions League match against Sevilla on October 20.
‘I am happy with the draw in the fact that we analysed straightaway the teams we are playing against,’ Lampard told Chelsea’s official website.
‘We are very aware that every Champions League group is very tough.
‘So I know a lot of the reaction afterwards was what a great draw it is for Chelsea but we can’t approach it with that mindset at all.
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‘They are very tough games, all the teams that we play, especially when you are travelling in Europe you always know you are going to get very competitive games.
‘Sevilla won the Europa League last year, and both of the other teams are emerging teams that will cause us a lot of threats and dangers, so let’s see.’
Chelsea have won two of their first four Premier League matches of the season and face Southampton next weekend.
‘I do think people have to remain calm – that’s how I have to be, I can’t get caught up in it. It’s my job not to be reactionary and not get too upset or down.
‘We got a lot of credit for coming fourth [last season] and we are not going to go from there to 100 instantly. We are a work in progress but I am up for that work and so are the players.’
