Chelsea's all-time record
goalscorer was regularly under the thumb of the Brazilian's joypad PLUS John
Terry and Eden Hazard are Europa doubts
David Luiz remembers the
days when, as a teenager, he had Frank Lampard banging in goals for him on Playstation.
A decade later, Luiz has
come to realise that Lampard doesn’t need a control pad to pull off his feats
of goalscoring brilliance.
And the Brazilian is still
pinching himself at having had the chance to play alongside the greatest
goalscorer in Chelsea’s history.
After seeing Lampard’s brace
break Bobby Tambling’s 202-goal record at Villa Park, Luiz said: “I have played
with many, many fantastic players in my life. But he is the hero at Chelsea.
“It’s a fantastic story. He
has scored the most for Chelsea. It is great for him. Football gives me an
opportunity to play with these players. I played with them only on the
Playstation when I was young.”
Of course, the irony of
Luiz’s comments is that he was himself described two years ago as performing as
though he was being “controlled by a 10-year-old on Playstation” by Sky Sports
pundit Gary Neville.
Yet it was Luiz’s
introduction at half time that helped Chelsea to come from a goal down to seal
their place in next season’s Champions League.
Had Aston Villa not misfired
after Christian Benteke netted 14 minutes in, Paul Lambert's team would have
pulled off a stunning upset.
Brilliant Benteke terrified
the Blues with his strength and pace. And when Ramires was sent off for two
bookable offences in first-half injury time, Chelsea really were staring down
the barrel.
But Benteke himself picked
up a second yellow card on the hour. Without him, Villa were just not the same
team.
Lampard’s first – just three
minutes after Benteke went off – saw him cut in from the right and lash a
left-foot drive past Villa keeper Brad Guzan.
His second, two minutes from
time, saw him burst into the six-yard box to despatch Juan Mata’s low ball in
from the left touchline.
Explaining the secret of his
success, Lamps said: “I am very fortunate in that I have had great parents. My
Dad, in a football sense, put that work ethic into me. I have continued to feel
fit this year. And I’ve felt a real ability to get into the box. The second
goal was an example of that.
“After that I try to work
hard on my finishing in training and once I put those things together and go
out and play I feel confident that these things can happen.”
Yet Lampard is being made to
sweat over a new deal as the Blues’ younger talents take the club forward.
He added: “I think the club
are making the right decisions and I hope to stay. Simple as that.
“We’ve got two big games
coming up. Nothing will happen in that period of time, but at the end of those
games I hope to sit down.”
At least Lampard is in with a
shout of making Wednesday’s Europa League Final. Skipper John Terry looks set
for a second final heartbreak in as many seasons after twisting his ankle late
in this game.
Last May he was banned from
the Champions League Final win over Bayern Munich. Lampard said: “Its a huge
blow. I am gutted for him because I know how difficult that was for him,
missing the game last year.
“But whatever we do as a
club, John is part of it. We win things together.”
Hazard and Terry are Europa
Final doubts
John Terry will find out
today whether he will miss his second European final in 12 months when he
receives the results of a scan.
Down and out? Chelsea
captain John Terry has treatment after injuring his leg
Getty
The Chelsea captain is
extremely doubtful for Wednesday’s Europa League Final after colliding with
Aston Villa’s Nathan Baker in the 76th minute.
Terry left Villa Park on
crutches and wearing a protective boot. He said: “It is my ankle. I’m going to
get it scanned. I don’t know if I’ll be fit for Wednesday at the moment.”
If he is ruled out it will
be the second successive year he has missed out on a major final after being
suspended for their Champions League success last May.
Blues boss Rafa Benitez is
also expected to lose Eden Hazard, who pulled a hamstring at Villa.
Benitez said: “A hamstring
injury is very difficult to overcome in just two or three days. This is bad
news. That makes Hazard very doubtful.”
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