Di Matteo: Lampard is still in my plans
Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win at Arsenal was the third successive match in which Lampard was not in the European champions’ XI, with Ramires selected alongside John Obi Mikel in central midfield.
Lampard admittedly was injured for Tuesday’s Carling Cup thrashing of Wolves, but his omission at the Emirates Stadium suggested the 34-year-old could start fewer big games during the final year of his current contract.
Chelsea were left badly exposed by top-class opposition when Lampard has played an anchor role alongside Mikel against Monaco in the European Super Cup earlier this season and manager Di Matteo admitted after the Arsenal win that he deliberately picked two genuine holding players.
Running alongside all this is talk Lampard will not be offered anything longer than a one-year contract extension and that Los Angeles Galaxy are ready to make him Major League Soccer’s latest big-name signing.
Lampard looks certain to return for tonight’s Champions League game at FC Nordsjaelland and Di Matteo said last night: “His future is very strong at this club. He’s a very important player for us.
“I’ve had conversations with him, yeah, which I do on a regular basis with the players. I like to exchange opinions.
“He’s very supportive of the team when he’s not in the team. When he’s in the team, he’s a great performer as well.
“From that point of view, we’re fortunate to have a very strong squad with international players, so that’s going forward with a busy schedule, it’s important we use these players.”
It seems unthinkable Lampard will sit out a fourth straight game tonight, especially when Chelsea’s midfield are unlikely to find themselves overrun by the Danish champions.
The biggest danger for the holders appears to be complacency ahead of a match they should win comfortably after throwing away a two-goal lead in the Group E opener against Juventus.
Di Matteo appeared to think so, saying: “This is probably the most important game in this group stage.
“We drew the first game, so it’s important we can gain points away from home. For us, it’s a crucial game.’’
Nordsjaelland have been forced to switch their Champions League matches to FC Copenhagen’s much larger Parken Stadium, something that further emphasises the gulf between them and Chelsea.
It is Uefa’s mission to close that chasm by virtue of Financial Fair Play (FFP), something which Di Matteo backed wholeheartedly.
“We as a club are in favour of FFP,” he said.
“We’re doing everything to be within those new laws and rules, and I think we’re on course for it.
“The amount of debt the clubs have in England, but also in Europe, is unsustainable. So everyone welcomes these new rules.”
For his part, Nordsjaelland manager Kasper Hjulmand has shrugged off the financial gulf between the two sides.
He said: “What we are facing right now is the biggest test of all.
“I think maybe a salary of just one of their players is the whole budget for our club for a year.
“It’s a good thing we aren’t competing in money, but on the pitch.”
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