Chelsea vs Manchester United - Revenge not on Lampard's mind - 7M sport

Chelsea vs Manchester United - Revenge not on Lampard's mind



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Posted Wednesday, April 06, 2011 by PA

Frank Lampard insists revenge is the furthest thing from his mind ahead of Chelsea's Champions League showdown with Manchester United.

Chelsea vs Manchester United - Revenge not on Lampard's mind

The Blues face United twice in the next week in a quarter-final which is a repeat of their agonising final defeat in Moscow three years ago.

Wednesday's first leg will be Lampard's 500th Chelsea appearance and there is no doubt which was his most painful game for the club.

But the 32-year-old is adamant he is too old to bear a grudge over events of May 2008.

"I really promise you, revenge certainly isn't in our minds," said the midfielder, who scored the equaliser in a final which Chelsea lost on penalties.

"When you play for a long period of time, as I have here, you see the ups and downs. You collect them.

"You don't any feel thoughts of revenge or anything against anyone.

"You understand you can't always be successful and win."

Lampard has certainly learnt that the hard way, having also suffered four semi-final defeats in the past seven years.

Add to that several calamities with England and the midfielder has plenty of disappointments to add to the many trophies he has won.

"There have been a few painful ones, with England as well," he said.

"They're obviously horrible feelings."

Chelsea will be without David Luiz who is cup-tied and will join fellow Brazil defender Alex on the sidelines, with the latter still building up his fitness following knee surgery.

But Yossi Benayoun might make his first appearance since September after recovering from a serious Achilles injury.

Billionaire owner Roman Abramovich has also learnt realising his long-held dream of turning Chelsea into champions of Europe is not as easy as he may have thought.

Lampard said: "I think we've given him some very good times.

"And I know the owner has appreciated it from how he's enjoyed them with us when we've won titles and cups.

"But the Champions League's a huge thing.

"I'm sure the owner would be very pleased or us to win it.

"But at the same time, he doesn't come in every day and knock our door down saying `Why have I not won this yet?'

"He understands it's the most difficult competition in football."

Chelsea could be facing an angry Wayne Rooney if his two-match ban for his foul-mouthed goal celebration at West Ham on Saturday is upheld.

Lampard said: "It might spur him on a bit. I don't know.

"I know he's a competitive character.

"When you get headlines, positive or negative, it can spur you on in different ways.

"You can't know before the game how he is.

"I think he's competitive and that comes out in different ways.

"He's a fantastic player. I don't think the anger or the sedation - that's not the right word - makes a difference.

"He's a top player so he'll be a threat, regardless."

Sir Alex Ferguson is pondering whether to hand Rio Ferdinand his first start since February 1 as Manchester United's defensive problems start to ease.

Ferdinand has been in full training for a week after his calf strain but Chris Smalling's excellent form leaves the United manager with a major dilemma.

Rafael is also available after a hamstring strain, whilst Jonny Evans returns from his three-match domestic suspension.

Full-back Patrice Evra has called for United to keep their focus for the entire game as they set about trying to end a nine-year wait for a win at Stamford Bridge.

Evra is among the majority of United players who head into the Champions League quarter-final first leg having never beaten the Londoners on their own ground.

It is not for the want of trying.

Evra cannot explain how such results have occurred. However, he does feel the solution is straightforward.

"It is something very strange," he said.

"Always we have the sensation we have played very well against Chelsea. In the end, at Stamford Bridge we always lose.

"Five weeks ago, there was only one team on the pitch. One year ago, we lost to a strange decision.

"The key is our concentration. We can play better than them but we must concentrate until the last minute."

Ferguson is not convinced United's opponents will be motivated by that rainy night in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium when the Champions League final turned on a missed Terry effort in a penalty shoot-out eventually won when Edwin van der Sar denied Nicolas Anelka.

"I don't believe players think about revenge," said Ferguson.

"Something that happened three years ago goes out of your mind quite quickly.

"The main ambition for any team is to win the cup. The motivation is greater to the match than to think about what happened in the past."



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