Frank Lampard has revealed why he opted to make changes to his Chelsea side for their FA Cup quarter-final clash with Leicester City.
Lampard's side sealed a massive 2-1 victory over Manchester City on Thursday night, to keep themselves in pole position for a place in the Champions League next season.
But the Blues have West Ham coming up this Wednesday before taking on Watford the following Saturday.
And with that in mind, the Chelsea boss has made a number of changes to his starting XI, giving some players who have been on the fringes some game time.
“The reality is to beat City you have to have as much physical output as you do in a season because of the way they play,” Lampard said on his team selection.
“Three days after, we haven’t had a proper pre-season and we are still in that moment so that is part of my thinking.
“The other part is that players are training at a level where they can be disappointed not to start the first two games.
“This is not six changes with a view to let's take this slightly differently, no it is a team I expect to perform to similar levels as they did the other, maybe better.”
Before adding on Billy Gilmour’s inclusion: “Yeah and he is one of those players. He finished so brilliantly before lockdown, two great performances.
“He has trained well and shown every day he has got the ability and work ethic to be in the starting eleven or to be in and around it for sure.
“So he gets his opportunity today.”
