Carlo Ancelotti believes Federico Valverde is the most similar Real Madrid player to Frank Lampard although the Uruguay international doesn’t have the same tasks on the pitch.
Lampard and Ancelotti meet at the Estadio Bernabeu on Wednesday night in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Italian tactician worked with Lampard at Stamford Bridge during his two-year spell in charge of Chelsea, but they have also met on the touchline during Lampard’s first spell as Chelsea coach while Ancelotti was at Everton.
“Lampard was a great player, a modern midfielder,” Ancelotti told Sky Sport Italia.
“He scored many goals because he had a unique ability to find space in the box with his late runs. An exemplary professional. I have great memories of him. He was a key player in my two years at Chelsea.”
So, who is the most similar player in the current Real Madrid squad?
“It’s hard, but Valverde is another box-to-box player with similar characteristics,” argued Ancelotti.
“However, it also depends on what a coach demands, and I am not asking him to do the same things as Lampard.”
The former Milan, PSG and Bayern Munich coach has remained on good terms with the former midfielder and is looking forward to meeting him at the Bernabeu tonight.
“We were in touch when I was at Everton. As a coach, he gives his teams a clear identity, he has just arrived at Chelsea, so he needs time, but all his teams have always had a clear identity,” concluded Ancelotti.
Lampard has recently been appointed as Chelsea’s interim coach until the end of the season after Graham Potter’s sacking. Ancelotti is a Champions League specialist, having won the trophy four times as a coach, more than anyone else.