Kurt Zouma calls for calm ahead of Chelsea's must-win Lille clash and hails return of Antonio Rudiger

Zouma says Chelsea must be more stable after 'crazy' Ajax clash.
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Kurt Zouma has called on his Chelsea teammates to secure passage to the Champions League knockout places in far more stable a manner than they have been playing this season.

Last time the Blues played a group stage game a Stamford Bridge they came from 4-1 down to draw 4-4 with nine-man Ajax in one of the most frantic games in Champions League history.

Beat bottom of the group Lille tonight and Frank Lampard's side are through to the knockout stages, it couldn't be more simple. But Zouma is aware that, particularly at home, Chelsea have often found a way to make things harder for themselves.

“Tonight is like a final for us, it is a must win match," said the Frenchman. "Obviously the results of the games before we haven’t kept a clean sheet but we have been playing very well.

“You can see that at Ajax away we played very well. The game against them at home was crazy.

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“But we came back and showed great character. Tonight is a different story. We win and we are through and that is what we want.

“Every game is a different pressure but we just know it is important tomorrow. We just want to win it and go through.”

Lampard has chopped and changed at the back in recent weeks as he searches for stability after keeping just one clean sheet in the last ten games in all competitions.

While he will be without Fikayo Tomori this evening, the return of Antonio Rudiger from injury could be vital. The German has been heralded as Lampard's saviour in defence. The Chelsea manager said the defender is raring to go and even sees himself that there is a case for his return to be built up.

"You only speak as you look at him and he looks fit and ready to go," said Lampard. "I know he’s hungry. In terms of the people building him up, probably rightly so. He’s a good defender."

Zouma added: "Rudiger is an important player for us. He is a very experienced player as well. We know the quality he has. It’s good to have him back. He will just help us in the games, we need everyone to move forward."

Chelsea are yet to win a home game in the Champions League this season and while all are praying for a calm evening, any way will do for Lampard's men.

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