In the short time since Lampard returned to Chelsea as caretaker manager on Thursday, with our Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid dominating the horizon, he has been confronting comparisons between the current season and 2011/12.

• Lampard on why Sterling could be key against Real Madrid

• Gallagher reacts to the weekend's defeat to Wolves

• Go behind the scenes and relive Munich 2012

Just over a decade ago, we also had a legendary former Blues midfielder – on that occasion Roberto Di Matteo – arrive at Stamford Bridge part-way through the season to take over the team until the end of the campaign, in the wake of disappointing league form. Of course, any Chelsea supporter will know how that ended, with Lampard captaining Di Matteo’s side to glory in the Champions League final.

However, Lampard is eager to prevent too many comparisons being made between 2012 and 2023, knowing it is important that he avoids being drawn into the dreaming and stays realistic about the size of the task we face in finding a way past the current holders Real Madrid in the last eight.

‘Probably on the outside, in a romantic sort of way, I can see why people would make the comparison,’ said Lampard. ‘But I think in football terms, because our games will be against Real Madrid and, if we can progress, Bayern Munich or Man City, there are practical things that are really tough. So I certainly don’t want to be getting one step further ahead of ourselves than I should.

‘We only can focus now on the game on Wednesday and the challenge there. I don’t think the history has a big effect on it but I understand the romantic idea. Wouldn’t we all love to see it again? But we have to work towards that. I think it is hard to compare with previous years gone by.’

Furthermore, while Lampard has as fond memories of the 2012 triumph as anyone else, he also points out it is easy to look back on that season and success through rose-tinted glasses 10 years on. He highlights the fact that an experienced squad featuring long-serving Blues like John Terry, Petr Cech and Didier Drogba was at a very different stage in its development than the current squad.

‘There was a lot to it. Part of that was we parked the bus at the Nou Camp and managed to hang on for our dear lives in the game. There were so many bits of fate and different moments but we did have a huge desire and a big character and a level of talent in a group that had been striving for years to win the Champions League.

‘That year’s the one people remember, but the one they don’t remember is getting knocked out by Inter Milan at Stamford Bridge, and other times like that. A team and a group will always go through tough moments to get to the great ones and now, with the team we’re putting together, everyone understands we’re not in that sort of position now.

‘We’re not in that position, but we have an opportunity against a fantastic team and we just have to attempt to make the most of the opportunity – go there with confidence and go there with a belief, because otherwise you don’t turn up.’

Only time will tell if Chelsea can add another chapter to our storied European history against Real Madrid in this tie, but it seems certain that whatever happens, with Lampard at the helm, the Blues will be approaching the two legs with their minds firmly planted in the present.