Rio Ferdinand believes Bayern Munich ’s 3-0 win over Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash was an “education” for Frank Lampard ’s side.
The Bavarian giants simply outclassed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, with Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski at their clinical best.
Ex-Arsenal winger Gnabry scored two goals in the space of just three minutes in the second half, both assisted by Lewandowski, before the Polish forward got in on the act himself.
Having not scored a Champions League knockout goal since February 2018 in a 5-0 thrashing of Besiktas, Lewandowski’s late strike capped of the Blues’ heaviest home defeat in the competition.
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Speaking after the match in his role as a pundit with BT Sport, Ferdinand claimed that Bayern’s win illustrated the gap between Chelsea and the elite sides in world football.
“It was an absolute education,” the former Manchester United defender said. “It was a clinic put on by this Bayern team.
“They never really got out of second gear and they didn’t need to. They upped it every now and again.
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“Gnabry didn’t even feature really in the first half [but] comes out second half explosive, scores two exquisite goals.
“They just showed that they had that quality, especially in the top end of the pitch.
“The two midfielders, Kimmich and Thiago, controlled the tempo of the game and when the ball got into the final third at the right times these boys were clinical, as they have been throughout the season in Germany.”
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Ferdinand’s comments have also been echoed by ex-Chelsea striker Chris Sutton, who told BBC Sport: “It’s one to forget for Frank Lampard.
“They were just out-classed. They defended resolutely first-half, but they struggled to get out and you felt it was coming. Bayern Munich were just in a different stratosphere.”
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