Lampard confirmed Kalidou Koulibaly will miss this game as well as the second leg against Real Madrid following the injury that forced him off in the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
‘He won’t be available for either game,’ confirmed Lampard. ‘It’s a hamstring injury and it will be a matter of weeks rather than days.
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‘He’s a very good, very experienced player. People talk a lot about our squad but when we haven’t got lots of cover in certain times and obviously the Champions League squad is different to the Premier League squad, of course it’s a disappointment for him and for us, but an opportunity for someone else.
‘We carry on without him and hopefully he gets fit as quick as he can.’
Chelsea vs Brighton Kante fitness update
N’Golo Kante made just his second start since August in Madrid, having returned from a lengthy injury absence in the Premier League draw with Liverpool a week earlier, and Lampard confirmed he is having to keep a close eye on the Frenchman’s fitness as he continues his comeback.
‘Having worked with N’Golo before, he’s an incredible player, one of the best I’ve been fortunate enough to work with. I know the positives of having him and the negatives of not, because in my first season here we missed him for some big periods. As an individual player his impact is very clear.
