Lampard says Chelsea can ‘go places’ after stunning comeback against Ajax

Frank Lampard felt Chelseas stunning comeback against Ajax proves his young side can go places this season.The Blues came from 4-1 down to snatch a 4-4 draw from a spellbinding Champions League encounter against last seasons semi-finalists.They scored two own-goals and two penalties while Ajax had two players sent off on a chaotic night at Stamford Bridge. Cesar Azpilicueta even thought he had scored a winner, only for VAR to rule his goal out for handball in the build-up.Nevertheless, a point from a breathless match keeps Chelsea firmly in the race to qualify from Group H, level on points with Ajax and Valencia.Blues boss Lampard said: Today was just a mad one, there are not too many I can compare it to from my day, with the VAR which is a new animal, and the red cards.But take all that out of it, and the spirit and the character was something I love. We need to tighten up, for sure, but with that spirit we can go places.You need characters, you need personalities. It would be easy to turn it in at 3-1, or 4-1, but we didnt.Chelseas Kurt Zouma applauds the fans after the UEFA Champions League Group H match against Ajax (John Walton/PA)I think this group was always going to be tight, and we are in it. Weve got two games left, very tough matches, and we have a lot of work to do.Ajax took the lead inside the opening two minutes when Tammy Abraham inadvertently diverted a Quincy Promes free-kick into his own net.But moments later Jorginho equalised from the penalty spot after a foul on Christian Pulisic.However, Promes headed the second before Hakim Ziyechs free-kick beat Kepa Arrizabalaga, came back off the post and hit the keeper full in the face before bouncing in.It was four 10 minutes after half-time thanks toDonny Van De Beeks low drive, but the comeback began when Azpilicueta tapped in at the far post.Ajaxs Daley Blind (second left) is shown a red card by referee Gianluca Rocchi (John Walton/PA)Then, in another crazy 60 seconds, Daley Blind was shown a second yellow card for fouling Abraham and Joel Veltman followed him down the tunnel for handling Callum Hudson-Odois shot.Stamford Bridge was rocking as Jorginho rolled in his second penalty of the night, and it was pandemonium moments later when substitute Reece James lashed home from a corner to equalise.VAR ruled out Azpilicuetas strike, spotting an Abraham handball among the pinball in the Ajax box leaving the Dutch champions suddenly grateful for a point.Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag said: Some decisions went against us, but we played magnificently. One moment everything changed.First Daley Blind, then Veltman, and a penalty, I felt we got punished many times.(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
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