Frank must prove he’s worth keeping

Rafael Benitez has told Frank Lampard it was up to him to prove Chelsea wrong over their decision not to offer him a new contract.

England midfielder Lampard last week appeared resigned to leaving Stamford Bridge when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

But the 34-year-old still has it within his power to make himself indispensable to the club where he has become a legend during nearly 12 glorious years.

Interim manager Benitez said: “The best way to do things is to perform on the pitch. For a player, it’s easier even than for a manager.

“For a manager, it depends on other people.

“For a player, you can go there and show everyone that you are the best.”

He added: “All of us are professional, we try to do our best, and after see what happens.

“But the answer is to be even better on the pitch.”

Lampard’s bid to do just that has been seriously hampered by injury in 2012 but he has started Chelsea’s last two matches and looks set for a regular spot in the side as captain, including tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League game with Aston Villa.

Despite his contract saga, he is fully motivated to perform, according to Benitez.

“I can see him working very hard in the training session, and working hard during the games,” Benitez said. “So, I don’t see any difference.”

Proof of this came in Lampard’s reaction to not starting Chelsea’s Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey last week.

“He wanted to play from the beginning in the first game and he was not quite happy,” Benitez said.

“My job is trying to bring the best out of each player.

“So I will try to bring the best from him against Aston Villa, against Norwich and every game.”

That is just about the limit of Benitez’s influence and he admitted it would be “easier” if he had more of a say on comings and goings.

But he added: “In this case, I knew what was going on.”

As well as helping Benitez on the pitch, Lampard could also aid the Spaniard off it, particularly in improving his relationship with Chelsea fans.

Four wins in five has not harmed Benitez’s hopes of quelling the supporter revolt against his appointment, while it seems he has already managed to win some of them over.

Revealing he had spoken to several fans at the staff Christmas party on Thursday, he said: “I was just 15 minutes at the party and talking with people and everybody was very, very positive.”

He added: “I said at the beginning that we have to win together.

“That is the way, for me, to carry on, trying to play good football and winning games, and I’m sure that they will appreciate this.”

Winning games could become all the more difficult if Chelsea fail to sign a new striker when the transfer window opens, especially if they sell Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool.

Benitez refused to be drawn on reports a fee had been agreed for Sturridge, confirming only the England forward was fit again after a hamstring injury.

But would he pick a player who is unlikely to still be at the club next month?

“It depends on the player, it depends on the situation,” Benitez said.

Benitez also played down fears John Terry’s protracted recovery from knee surgery was a major cause for concern, saying: “We know it’s an inflammation and it’s a question of time that it goes down.”