Source: Telegraph
Frank Lampard keen to avoid Liverpool for fifth time in Champions League
In three of those four meetings, the teams have met in the semi-finals, with Liverpool winning in 2004 and 2007, while Chelsea succeeded in last year's last four, in dramatic fashion. [LNB]Lampard helped Chelsea to a 2-2 draw against Juventus in Turin on Tuesday - and 3-2 aggregate win - but the England midfielder admitted the players were 'fed up' with what has become an annual Champions League clash. [LNB] Related ArticlesFive goal-line blunders[LNB]Juventus 2 Chelsea 2: Agg: 2-3[LNB]Juventus v Chelsea: Man marking[LNB]Hiddink restores feel-good factor[LNB]Drogba stops sulking - and scores[LNB]Champions League draw: Chelsea and Liverpool to meet again[LNB]"When you look around at who is left in the competition there is not a team you would say you fancy playing," said Lampard. "Maybe Liverpool don't want to play us either and, to be honest, we are all a bit fed-up of that one. If fate says it should happen then so be it, but I think we would all be happy avoiding it. [LNB]"Maybe every other team might not want to play us, but we are thinking about them too. We know whoever we draw will be strong and we will have to perform to go through." [LNB]And Lampard revealed that Chelsea are going back to the future to rediscover their form of old and threaten the best both here and in Europe. Lampard, a Stamford Bridge veteran of nearly eight years and more than 400 appearances, admitted that temporary first-team coach Guus Hiddink has helped the players revive their previously flagging fortunes. [LNB]The return of Michael Essien, six months after he underwent a knee operation, highlighted Chelsea's new-found confidence and belief and, after seven games without loss, including six wins, Chelsea have become difficult to beat again. Essien epitomised the Chelsea of old, a side of power and passion and one determined to fight for the right to win. [LNB]Against Juventus, Chelsea had a perfectly good goal disallowed, with television cameras showing that Didier Drogba's late first half effort crossed the line. And then the players had to keep their discipline when the Spanish referee awarded Juve a penalty. [LNB]"It was a big result for us to come through," said Lampard. "It says a lot about Chelsea. Even when we are faced with incidents like perfectly good goals being disallowed and penalties given against us we show the kind of spirit that gets that gets the job done. It is very important in those sort of situations that you keep going. [LNB]"The spirit we have had in the last five years is what we are all about. And with the quality we have in the squad we should be able to do that. It is all done to the players and at times this season maybe we didn't have that and it showed. [LNB]"But against Juventus, and in the last five games, we have shown just how together we are and when you have got the quality we have in the team you can achieve whatever you want." [LNB]The Hiddink effect has changed attitudes at Chelsea, and Lampard added: "He's done very well though the changes he has made have been subtle. [LNB]"It is always going to be difficult for a manager coming in mid-season but it is also very important players respond to what he says and we have shown that we have."[LNB]One problem Hiddink has yet to eradicate is Chelsea's poor away form in Europe; they have not won on their travels since November 2007 and Lampard admitted that had to change. [LNB]"Thankfully we scored twice and when you get to this stage of the competition performances away from home are vital. They are not always going to be the most beautiful performances, but we have to be tactically very clever and games in qualifying we weren't always like that. [LNB]"In Rome we were very open and against Bordeaux we didn't play well, but now is crunch time and we have shown we are capable. We were slow to start in the first 25-30 minutes (in Turin) when they were better than us, but we came through it." [LNB]Italian reaction to Juventus defeat[LNB]La Stampa: Claudio Ranieri knew he was sitting on a powder keg. That goal by Drogba was the fuse that could blow everything in the air. The coach cannot erase the name of seven letters: Chelsea. [LNB]TuttoSport: Juventus goes out of the Champions League with heads held high, eliminated by one of the favorites to ultimate success. [LNB]TuttoMercato: A good race and proof of pride is not enough to beat the vice-champions of Europe. [LNB]Il Giornale: Juve will look inside and go to bed angry and disappointed, even if there are mitigating factors. [LNB]Corriere dello sport: They had the misfortune to meet a team in full revival, both physically and psychologically. [LNB]
