LAMPARD WILL NOT ALLOW GAP TO WIDEN
FRANK LAMPARD has pledged to make next season harder for Liverpool and Manchester City.
His Chelsea side need just four points to qualify for the Champions League after beating Norwich on Wednesday.
They have also got an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Sunday.
And they are still in this year’s Champions League – even though they face a daunting task of trying to overturn a 3-0 deficit when they go to Bayern Munich for the second leg of their last-16 tie.
While Lampard is satisfied with his first season at Chelsea, he admits he doesn’t like to see champions Liverpool 30 points ahead of them and Manchester City clear in second.
He said: “I am happy but I want a lot more.
“When we come back after however this season ends we have to tackle it and say, ‘Can we start closing that gap’?
“It is going to be a tough job. The gap is clear to Liverpool and Manchester City in points.
“We are in a situation where we are a work in progress. There is a lot to do.”
But after being restricted by a transfer ban last summer and having to blood a lot of homegrown kids, Lampard says Chelsea’s efforts so far have been encouraging.
He added: “I think we can be pretty happy with where we are right now.
“I don’t want to jump the gun because we have games which are going to be pivotal in where we actually finish.
“You see the transition of the team and the youth we have had.
“A lot of our players were on loan last year and some of those were in the Championship, so I feel we can be pretty happy but I really think there is a lot more work to do.”
After their FA Cup tie, Chelsea visit Liverpool and then host Wolves on the final day.
Despite the finishing line being in sight, Lampard is keeping his players’ focused.
He said: “Rather than talk about bottle I want to talk about focus and attitude.
“Liverpool and Wolves are two really good opponents.
“We just have to focus on those games one by one and show the right attitude.”
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