Lampard fears Messi will pose greater threat after Cole loss

Published on Wednesday 15 April 2009 22:50

FRANK Lampard fears the influence Lionel Messi will have on Chelsea's Champions League semi-final following the loss of Ashley Cole.

The Blues will renew their European rivalry with Messi's Barcelona after completing a bewildering 7-5 aggregate victory over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona are favourites for the tie with the first leg at the Nou Camp in a fortnight with Messi, the competition's top scorer, the pick of their frightening array of talent.

The Argentina playmaker has been compared to Diego Maradona and Lampard is concerned how Chelsea will cope with his threat in the absence of Cole, whose suspension has left the club without a recognised left-back.

"Losing Ashley is a huge blow. He has been absolutely outstanding this season," said Lampard. "Lionel Messi is the best player in the world by some distance at the moment and will be on the right wing. If you wanted anyone to play against him it would be Ash.

"Unfortunately he got a yellow card but we have to try and keep together, find someone to come in and do a good job against him for the team."

Chelsea and Barcelona have met eight times in the Champions League – with four of those matches staged in 2006 – since the turn of the century.

So far the series is even with three wins apiece and two draws but Barcelona are flying this season, six points clear at the summit of La Liga and highly fancied to repeat their success of 1992 and 2006.

Lampard acknowledges Chelsea, who have conceded seven times in their last two matches following Tuesday night's enthralling 4-4 draw with Liverpool, must stop leaking goals if they are to prevail.

"We have to look back at the mistakes we make as a group in conceding goals. We have to be strong and we need to tighten up defensively," he said.

"If we are going to beat Barcelona we need to play at the level we achieved in the first leg against Liverpool at Anfield when we won 3-1.

"It will be a very tough game because of the way they're playing, but we know what to expect, particularly in the away leg.

"Barcelona are probably favourites at the moment because of the way they're playing, but being favourites doesn't mean you go through.

"Barcelona are the form team in Europe, if not the world. They've been like that all season so there can't be a tougher match for us in this competition."

Lampard scored twice on a nailbiting night at Stamford Bridge, including the goal that ultimately thwarted Liverpool's remarkable fightback. "There were moments when I couldn't believe what was happening," said the England midfielder.

"It was real see-saw stuff. We were comfortable and then nearly out. It was a beautiful game in those terms. It was completely crazy. We didn't want it to be crazy – we wanted it to be much simpler than that. After half-time we showed great character and turned it round. We deserved to go through in the end."

Goalkeeper Petr Cech insists his confidence will remain undamaged by Chelsea's recent defensive calamities.

Cech looked uncomfortable throughout against Liverpool and interim manager Guus Hiddink must decide whether to drop the usually unflappable shotstopper for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.

But while Cech admits he was twice at fault for the recent flurry of goals, he insists the errors should not overshadow his general form.

"I felt I was playing really well until the Bolton game on the weekend," said the Czech international. "It was a difficult game, but there was a goal I didn't like against Bolton and another one against Liverpool. But I've had many good games when everything went right, so I won't let what has happened affect my confidence."

Liverpool left-back Fabio Aurelio exposed Cech with a 35-yard free-kick at Stamford Bridge and the 26-year-old refused to excuse his blunder. "It was a strange game for myself against Liverpool. I did all the preparation right and tried my best but it just didn't happen," he said.

"Everyone is excited by games like that, but not me because I conceded four goals and made a mistake for the first one. It's not a good way for a keeper. Of course I hold my hand up for the first. I was caught too easily. I slipped a little bit, but that's not an excuse – it's a goal I shouldn't have conceded."

Chelsea are challenging for silverware on two fronts – the Barclays Premier League appears beyond their grasp – and Cech has been impressed by Hiddink's contribution.

The Dutchman, who has been combining his Chelsea role with the job of Russian national coach, is due to leave the Stamford Bridge club at the end of the season, but Cech would like to see him appointed on a permanent basis. "The team is very happy with the manager – you can see that on the pitch" he said. "I have to say I want him to stay because when you have a manager who brings success you always say yes."