Kante ruled fit for Bayern Munich vs Chelsea

N'Golo Kante has recovered from a hamstring injury and has been declared fit for Chelsea's Champions League Round of 16 second leg clash with Bayern Munich.

N'Golo Kante last played for Chelsea when the Blues took on Watford in the Premier League on July 4.

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has been ruled fit for the side's Champions League Round of 16 second leg at Bayern Munich on Saturday as the Blues struggle with injuries.

Coach Frank Lampard is already without Cesar Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic and Pedro, who all picked up injuries during Chelsea's 2-1 defeat by Arsenal in the FA Cup final. Willian is also out.

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Lampard told reporters that American Pulisic's injury -- a hamstring strain -- could rule him out for six weeks while Azpilicueta would be sidelined for three. But Ruben Loftus-Cheek has recovered and is ready to start.

Chelsea lost 3-0 in London in the first leg and with the string of injuries at the end of its domestic season decimating his squad and Lampard said his players would need to be careful.

“I wouldn't say all guns blazing or keep it tight,” he said about his tactics. “We want to get our game right as a whole.”

“When you play a team as good as they are, you have to play very well and we didn't play well enough (in the first leg),” he added.

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Bayern is in the hunt for a treble of titles after winning the domestic league and Cup double.

Lampard will be drawing on his own playing experience in Munich, when Chelsea came from a goal down in 2012 to win a penalty shootout against Bayern and lift the trophy, to motivate his players.

“If I try to use all the short stories from my career to the players they would get very bored, but I want them to feel and show they can turn this game around. Then they can attempt to do something special,” he said.

 

- No disappointment if Willian leaves Chelsea: Lampard

Lampard said he is unsure if Brazilian winger Willian will remain at Chelsea next season but expects no bitterness from both parties if he does depart.

British media has reported that Willian is on the verge of joining Chelsea's London rival Arsenal on a three-year deal after his current employer only offered him a two-year extension which left him disappointed.

 

The 31-year-old Willian's contract expires at the end of Chelsea's Champions League campaign. Willian will miss the clash against Bayern Munich due to an ankle injury.

“I haven't got an answer (about whether Willian will leave) because Willian remains our player at the moment. It actually doesn't matter about disappointment from any party in this situation,” Lampard told reporters.

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“Certainly as a club we have done everything we can to explain to Willian, and mine and his relationship is close. I'd have no feeling of disappointment if he does move on.

“I've played with him, coached him, he's a fantastic man and a fantastic player. He'll feel like that about Chelsea... But I don't want anyone to try and find a negative attitude, because the club have acted very well in this as well.”

Willian has scored 63 goals and provided 62 assists in 339 appearances for Chelsea since his arrival from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013.