Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard wants to win the FA Cup so temporary coach Guus Hiddink can leave with a trophy.
Hiddink arrived in January after the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari and turned the Blues' season around after a mediocre start to the Barclays Premier League. Next Saturday's FA Cup final against Everton is the last chance to avoid a second consecutive trophy-less season and Lampard knows the stakes are high.
"A season without silverware is seen as a failure and that's pretty well right, if you look at the quality of the squad here," he said.
He added: "We'd love to leave him (Hiddink) with a trophy as a thank you.
"We all feel the same about that. We've been a very tight-knit group since he came in. The man has been a pleasure, not just as a manager but as a person."
Carlo Ancelotti had been tipped to take over in the summer when Hiddink returns to coaching Russia full-time but on Saturday the Italian committed to staying at AC Milan.
Lampard admits he is in the dark as much as anyone else, but warned that regardless of who is appointed, the players must mount a stronger challenge for the league title next term.
"I expect it [Ancelotti's appointment] as much as you," he added. "There will be continuity here whatever happens, I hope.
"It's important that players get the hump United won the league and that we're not in the Champions League final, and make sure we put it right.
"Whatever decision the owner makes, let's hope it works. If it doesn't, the club are within their rights to make it work. If you took away the pressure, I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
Comment 1 - 8 of 8
i WISH HE CAN STAY, BUT THAT IS LIFE
WITH ONE WHO RESPECT HIS WORDS.
THE BLUES IN AFRICA WISH G. HIDDINKS
THE BEST OF LUCK.
lamp is a player one cannot afford to miss. we as fans of chealsea adores his intelligent contribution in all the games, wishing him and his taem mates a good summer holiday full of fun, but looking forward to a brillant start of next season. not foegetting an fa cup win over everton.
dan kelly you must read alot of history books , and what on earth has the amount of cups got to do with how good a side are at the moment ?? in real time ! chelsea are without a doubt one of the strongest teams in europe and have been for a few years now ,live with it you jealous person.i suspect you are a littlepool fan ?
he is good player for chelsea but not for england. i cant understand.
Chelsea is better than Liverpool............ and that no one can change....
Lampard is a player of the highest possible quality, and a credit to british football. My only regret is that he doesn't play for Man Utd. If Chelsea can keep their focus and determination, I see no reason why they should not be the Club that everyone else has to beat, though they have wandered a bit in that regard. Take a leaf out of Utd's book. Go for the long game. It takes patience and gritted teeth, but with the finance available and the depth of quality, as long as they can get a cohesive squad including the Manager, and Abramo-wotsisname does not meddle with the professionals, then they will be a force to be reckoned with, and they are not far short of that now. Good luck to them is what I say. I hope Utd will still beat you, but then I am biased... ;)
Mr. "cool head" Lampard. Its always a pleasure watching you play and a delight listening when you're talking.
Quite a nice guy.
Man Sonny
Kiev,
What makes me smile is that chelsea have won 14 cups in their history. compared to liverpools 43 cups and Manchester United 36 cups or even arsenal 26 cups. @#$% fans @#$% team @#$% history. Go and spend another 200-500 mil.
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