Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard turns attention to Barcelona

 

Frank Lampard is convinced Chelsea have the beating of Barcelona if they reproduce the display that saw them thrash Tottenham 5-1 to reach the FA Cup final.

The Blues finally delivered a performance to give Barca cause for concern last night, three days before the teams meet in a mouthwatering Champions League semi-final first leg at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea's chances against the all-conquering Spanish and European champions were written off the moment the draw was made but Lampard said: "From the start of every game, it's 50-50.

 

"Barcelona are favourites because of the players they have in their team but if we play like we did against Spurs in the two games then we will have a chance.

"It gives us confidence. We have to carry that on.

"There's no point in resting on that because the game on Wednesday's huge.

"We need to take that into the Champions League games and all the rest of our league games.

"Any team's beatable. They are the best, but we can't show too much fear.

"We have to take them on and I think we can do it."

Chelsea were hoping today they had not exhausted all their luck after another refereeing controversy went their way last night.

Martin Atkinson was forced to apologise to Spurs boss Harry Redknapp for awarding the Blues' second goal after a shot by Juan Mata, which television replays appeared to show did not cross the line.

Lampard said: "It wasn't a goal, simple as that, and for that you feel sorry for Tottenham.

"Goal-line technology needs to be brought in, in my opinion.

"I think it's a no-brainer.

"It's very simple. It's in a lot of other sports.

"I know we're all traditionalists and we want to keep our game as quick-moving and as simple as we want.

"But I think cricket was like that and cricket definitely benefited from it and was more exciting to watch.

"With football, it's too big a business and too important.

"People come to watch games and support clubs throughout the season and it should be dealt with.

"The powers that be have to do it.

"It takes a few seconds to work out, probably, whether it's a goal or not.

"Why not take it out of everyone's instant reaction and put it in the eyes of Hawk-Eye, or whatever it might be?"

PA

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

iBet: Look To The Lady In The Prince Of Wales

The Prince of Wales Stakes today is regarded by many as the No1 race of the Royal Ascot meeting and ...

by Gareth Purnell

iBet: Favourites have a good record in the Coventry stakes

Today’s St James Palace looks a cracker and there has been sustained money for Dawn Approach since t...

by Gareth Purnell

Newcastle don’t need a football director – they need a new medical team after finishing bottom of the injury league

Newcastle United have shocked their fans by appointing Joe Kinnear as director of football but new f...

by Alex Miller

       
 
'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over
Hannah England: I've got the right times – now to focus on the chess

Hannah England: Keeping Track

I've got the right times – now to focus on the chess
Beards, brawn and body art

Beards, brawn and body art

Meet London’s new batch of male models
Scandi-geeks descend on Nordicana for fan-convention

Scandi-geeks descend on Nordicana for fan-convention

British love of shows such as The Bridge, Borgen and The Killing shows no sign of fading
Behind the rhetoric what is really being done to combat desertification?

The Great Green Wall of Africa,

Behind the rhetoric what is really being done to combat desertification?
Laughter Inc: the cheering growth of the chuckle industry

Laughter Inc

The cheering growth of the chuckle industry
The bad science scandal: how fact-fabrication is damaging UK's global name for research

The bad science scandal

How fact-fabrication is damaging UK's global name for research
To the manor born: The female aristocrats battling to inherit the title

Female aristocrats battle to inherit the title

A passionate protest is gathering pace among the women of Britain's aristocracy, who believe that men should no longer automatically inherit the family pile and title.
Love struck: Photographs of JFK's visit to Berlin 50 years ago reveal a nation instantly smitten

In pictures: JFK's visit to Berlin in 1963

Photographer Ulrich Mack accompanied Kennedy on the entire trip. The results are an astonishing record of a watershed moment.
Eat shoots and leaves: Mark Hix gets creative with fresh peas, mangetouts and sugar snaps

Mark Hix gets creative with English peas

English peas and their offsprings, such as mangetouts and sugar snaps, are great tossed into a salad, says our chef.
Ceviche with a smile: Chef Martin Morales has turned South America's elegant cuisine into one of London's hottest food trends

Chef Martin Morales: Ceviche with a smile

Morales has turned South America's elegant cuisine into one of London's hottest food trends