CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Frank Lampard not looking for revenge

Apr 10 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

FRANK LAMPARD has warned revenge could be a dangerous emotion as Chelsea seek to banish the heartache of their two Champions League semi-final defeats to Liverpool.

The Londoners’ 3-2 aggregate win over Fenerbahce in the quarter-finals set up a third last-four meeting with Liverpool in four years.

Chelsea failed to win the previous two meetings at the same stage but this time the crucial return leg will be at Stamford Bridge and not Anfield.

Lampard is hopeful that will give his side an advantage as they look to overcome the Merseysiders and reach the Champions League final for the first time.

“The last two times we played we got knocked out but that will have no bearing on this semi-final,” said Lampard.

“To go into a game with revenge on your mind is not the right emotion to take into a game.

“Champions League is very much about keeping your head and concentrating for the whole 90 minutes in both legs. I don’t think it is about revenge, it is about the golden carrot of getting to the final.

“I am sure Liverpool will have the same motivation to get to the final.

“They are not going to win the league this year and we are still fighting for that. They are fighting all on one front.

“We will both have a lot of motivation to get there. But, I won’t lie, it would be great to get to the final this year.

“In the semi-final, you can’t dictate who you play against. We have had some disappointing moments against them and they are a very accomplished Champions League team.

“They will have the added benefit of not having to go for it in the league as they look pretty secure in fourth place.

“It will be a tough tie. Maybe going up their first can be a bonus. But it only helps if you get the right result.

“If you give yourself a mountain to climb, it won’t help. In modern-day Champions League, the away goal seems to become more and more important.

“So we have to go there with a positive attitude and try and get an away goal and then bring them back here, which will be different to the last two times we have played them.

“To lose a semi-final is very disappointing but the more experience you get in football, you realise that there will be bad nights and you can’t win everything.

“The most important thing is to learn from them and correct it in the future and hopefully we will get a chance to do that.

“Losing is the worst thing you can do but you know how Liverpool are going to play. They have a very good recipe in Champions League football.

“They are very organised and are a big threat going forward.

“It hasn’t worked well for them in the league but in the Champions League it has been very impressive. We have to make sure we concentrate.”