Frank Lampard has warned Manchester United his Chelsea players will not be taking their Carabao Cup clash lightly.
The Blues suffered a 4-0 defeat at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the season in August as Lampard’s reign got off to the worst possible start.
It proved a false dawn for both sides, however, as Chelsea’s campaign has gone from strength to strength while United endured their worst ever start to a Premier League season.
Lampard is expected to ring the changes when the two sides meet again in tonight’s fourth-round clash at Stamford Bridge.
But he expects those who step up to the starting XI to make the most of their chance to impress.
“I won’t take this game lightly even if I make changes,” the Chelsea boss said.
“If players do step out of the line up with a view to the coming weeks, it’s about the big picture.
“I understand how players are but those who start will give everything.
“[The 4-0 defeat to United] feels a million miles away but I’m not disregarding it.
“They hurt us four times in a game we played particularly well in.”
The Carabao Cup is the first piece of silverware Lampard could win as a boss, with the final due to take place at Wembley on March 1.
It is, arguably, the club’s lowest priority while they remain in Premier League top-four contention and the Champions League, but he is desperate to give it a good go.
“We’ll target them all,” Lampard said. “It comes earliest in the year and potentially in the quarter-finals early.
“It would [be a big achievement]. A day at Wembley should never be taken lightly. But not just for the young boys – we’ll give it our all.”
