Paul Lambert expects fresh Chelsea

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert does not believe Chelsea's hectic recent schedule will have an impact on Sunday's Premier League match.

The Blues have been to Japan and back this month for the Club World Cup, and took on Leeds in the quarter-final of the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.

But Lambert, who also has huge respect for Chelsea's interim manager Rafa Benitez, does not expect their recent air miles to give Villa any advantage.

Lambert said: "I hope the travelling affects them - but I don't think it will. They had a good result the other night against Leeds.

"The tiredness only comes in if you are not getting results, if you're winning nobody bothers.

"In terms of Rafa, you look at his managerial career and it is phenomenal. He's gone in there at a difficult time and tried to stabilise it and get results at the same time.

"You look at Chelsea's squad, and the players they've got, and there are some world-class players in there."

Villa are unbeaten in their last five league games and also reached the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup.

Lambert's men chalked up a notable 3-1 victory at Liverpool last week where the strike duo of Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann proved unstoppable. 

Lambert said: "Andi (Weimann) was here long before I came in. He's a natural finisher and has an incredible work-rate for the game of football. Provided he does not lose that, he can be a right good player. 

"He's a totally different player to Christian, but he certainly knows where the goal is. 

"We try to let them have the freedom to go and play and create."

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Source: SkySports