Blues to use FA Cup for Europe prep

4 May 2012 15:49

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard said victory in the FA Cup will stand his side in good stead to go on and win the Champions League.

Roberto Di Matteo's men face Liverpool at Wembley on Saturday before they meet Bayern Munich in the European final.

It is no secret that Blues owner Roman Abramovich wants the Champions League crown in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet, and Lampard is certain that a win over Kenny Dalglish's men would be the perfect warm-up to the showdown on May 19.

"It would be a great boost," the 33-year-old told Sky Sports.

"We're in two finals now and you want to win one and take that confidence into the next one would be fantastic.

"We know that it's (the Champions League final) a very tough game in its own right out there, but we want to win it.

"We want to put everything into this game alone and all thoughts of (the) Champions League will have to be put on the back burner. Hopefully we can get the result and that will give a wave of confidence through the club."

Di Matteo has a selection dilemma up front ahead of Saturday's final, with Fernando Torres coming back into form after his hat-trick against QPR, but Didier Drogba has an outstanding record at Wembley – notching seven times in as many appearances in the famous ground.

"We're very fortunate to have the pair of them," Lampard said.

"Didier has been absolutely fantastic for this club and for years and years he's produced when it's mattered.

"Fernando is playing very well and is obviously a world-class player but I can't speak highly enough of what Didier has done for this place because if you look at his record of scoring in finals, semi-finals and just important games generally for us, he's been top-drawer."

Lampard also welcomed the appointment of Roy Hodgson as England manager, despite the announcement meaning that his uncle, Harry Redknapp, was overlooked.

He added: "It's a very good appointment and I think he's a very experienced manager who has international experience and club football experience.

"Ideally if I put in good performances until the end of the season and am involved in the squad, he'd be the sort of manager that you'd love to work with."