Lampard sure Chelsea will win title
Midfielder acknowledges toll of injuries but is confident team's quality will lead them to the top
London: Chelsea have been desperately short of statements of intent in recent weeks but there was a clear one Monday from Frank Lampard.
"I have no doubt we will win the league," the 32-year-old midfielder said in the wake of his return to action against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday after almost four months out with a series of injuries. Lampard said that Chelsea needed to continue to show the same "spirit" as had been demonstrated at White Hart Lane and hoped that the 1-1 draw — which could so easily have been a victory — would act as a staging post for a season that was beginning to unravel.
"We have got the quality in our team," Lampard said. "Injuries have been tough on us. But with the spirit and ability we have got in our team, if we play like that, I have confidence we can do it. "It is very tough. We will have to fight on a few fronts.
Man City are there now, Arsenal, Man United, as we know. Teams like Tottenham are pushing from behind. So we have to be at our best, but if we are at our best I think we can win it." Lampard was a surprise substitute against Spurs. Manager Carlo Ancelotti had planned to field him in a practice match on Thursday — and will still do — before starting the player against Manchester United on Sunday.
But, after a discussion on Saturday afternoon, it was decided Lampard, who has been debilitated by a groin injury and then a detached tendon, could be on the bench against Spurs. Not that he was able to take up his usual penalty duties, deferring to Didier Drogba that the striker missed.
"It's a difficult one, having been probably not playing two days ago to me playing and training for two days," Lampard said. "I haven't practised a penalty in three months. I thought it would have been wrong for me to come on and try and take personal glory on my return, rather than let Didi take it, who has been practising and scoring. We can all miss them and credit to Didi for stepping up." Ancelotti is now more content at the club, having met Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich
