Lampard warns of great expectations
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has warned his team-mates they must adapt to the tag of favourites if they want to become a major power in European football.
The Blues go into the Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final, first leg, tie at Monaco as favourites for the trophy after all the heavily-fancied teams have fallen by the wayside.
Real Madrid, AC Milan, Manchester United and Arsenal are among those who have suffered premature exits, leaving Chelsea and Monaco in one semi-final and Deportivo La Coruna and FC Porto in the other.
The Blues have been happy to be classed as underdogs until now, but if they are going to become European champions, then they must expect that to change.
“I have seen that we are favourites and that is not a nice situation for us because we have been happy being the underdog,” said Lampard.
“As favourites we have to make sure we don’t get carried away.
“As soon as we became favourites the manager mentioned it because he didn’t like it, and we have got to block it out and keep reminding ourselves that Monaco have beaten Real Madrid and put eight past Deportivo.
“We are not used to being the favourites but if the club is going to continue to go in the right direction then we are going to have to get used to it.
“It is an open competition now with two good teams in the other tie and I don’t think you can really pick a winner that easily, but if we can go on and win it then it will be a great achievement.
“It is a great occasion. We are confident, we have played very well away but it is important to go and score, so I don’t think we’ll be going to Monaco to defend.
“It is a great venue and everyone dreams of going there as a kid, so we need to enjoy the atmosphere. We are taking 1,500 fans who will make it a great atmosphere and it is a Champions League semi-final so it will be watched all over the world.
“I want medals and this could be a great starting point. If we get it then the amount of confidence it will give us for next season in terms of the league, which is a big aim, will be great.”
Lampard was the only player who looked like scoring as Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Everton at Stamford Bridge yesterday, hitting the woodwork in either half.
It was their second successive 0-0 at home and not only did it extend their run to three games in a week without a victory, but it also meant they blew a great chance to open up a six point gap on Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson’s men lost at Portsmouth in the lunchtime kick-off.
“It was disappointing not to get the win,” admitted Lampard.
“We have to get back together. We looked stronger as a team in the build-up to the Arsenal game but we have lost that a bit and the team has changed a little bit. We need to get back to that strength that we showed.
“This was a big slip-up because we knew the Manchester United result before we went out and were determined to make the gap six points because I can’t see them losing too many more games.”
