LAMPARD: I CAN'T WAITSpirit, devotion and passion, that's what Chelsea will need to beat Barcelona in the Champions League according to Super Frank Lampard.
Our vice-captain spoke following the dramatic win over Liverpool on Tuesday, and insisted the Blues will need to maintain the attitude we displayed against the Reds to come back from 2-0 down at the Bridge.
Rallying in the second half, Chelsea were eventual winners thanks to goals from Didier Drogba, Alex and Lampard (his brace taking the midfielder within one goal of 20 for the season yet again), completing 'a great tie of English football' and a passionate win to seal our place in the semis.
'I can't wait to play them [Barcelona]. To play at the Nou Camp in the first game will be fantastic, they are a great team,' explained Lampard.
'It will be very tough, they have some very outstanding individuals like [Lionel] Messi, but we are playing well, particularly the way we played at Anfield. We have to get our minds right, prepare right, and we have a chance.
'If we can get the right result there, play like we did at Liverpool and bring them back to the Bridge, as long as we don't defend like we defended in the second leg against Liverpool, but play with that passion, then we have a great chance.'
That defence was missing John Terry's leadership, while in the first leg against Barcelona we will be missing Ashley Cole following the left-back's third yellow card. Speculation over the replacement can begin with the likes of Branislav Ivanovic, Juliano Belletti, José Bosingwa and Michael Essien all likely to get a mention among others.
With regards to the defensive line-up against Liverpool however, Wednesday night's game was never going to be an easy one to win. Liverpool have been dubbed 'Comeback Kings' in the past and were expected to surge into the Chelsea box from kick off.
'It was an amazing night of football; there were lots of ups-and-downs. Half-time we were very down, we didn't turn up in the first half, but in the second half we showed great spirit,' Lampard added.
'It was a great feeling because at the end of the day we knocked out one of the hardest teams we have played in the Champions League, we knocked them out with a great game of English football.'
Chelsea have faced some of the toughest tests on our way to the semis and we're now up against the favourites in the next round.
'It's maybe two of the strongest teams, hopefully,' said Lampard, 'Barcelona sure are and the way we are playing now is very strong, but the prize is to be in the final and to win the Champions League.
'You have to work hard for anything you get in football, especially at the top level. We are desperate to win the Champions League because of last year and how close we were and how bad it felt. But if we work hard and we perform then we have a chance.'
Lampard's not the only player who has confidence in Chelsea's ability to succeed, so long as we display the correct traits. Florent Malouda joined his vice-captain in voicing assurance over Chelsea's capacity to win.
'They [Barcelona] play a beautiful game in Europe, everybody recognises that, but we have to change that if we want to beat the best teams,' said our number 15.
'Liverpool was one of the best teams in Europe; we beat them, and even when we scored three goals at Anfield we were thinking about the goals we didn't score.
'We have to play with all our qualities and then, with the squad we have, we can put them in danger.'
Something that will be apparent when we travel to Spain later this month is the different style of football both sides will produce.
'Both cultures and both teams have different strengths,' said Lampard, 'Spanish teams, particularly Barcelona, have great technical ability, flare and speed.
'We have some of that as well but we also have a very strong physical presence and it is important you use your strengths in each game, so we will do that.
'But every round is different and every game is different, if you don't perform then you would get knocked out of the Champions League in an instant.
'Because of the quality around you, you need a little bit of luck along the way, but if we don't perform our best in the semis then we will be out.
'But for me Barcelona is the best stadium to play at, the team is magic and they are the in-form team this season in Europe.
'It is every player's dream to play at the Nou Camp in the semi-final of the Champions League.
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