Five ways to win in Moscow

It is a frequent insult hurled in the direction of Frank Lampard by his detractors, that he puts himself before the demands of his team, but it would be difficult to say as much with any conviction after his pre-match performance yesterday.

Showing signs of emotion in his first press conference since the death of his mother, Pat, last month, the England midfield player claimed that his career-defining display in the semi-final, second leg win over Liverpool would pale compared with the achievement of lifting the European Cup this evening.

Lampard would be hard pressed to improve on his performance against Liverpool, when he created the first goal for Didier Drogba and scored the second from the penalty spot under intense pressure, but he would settle for a bit-part role if it helped to deliver victory for his team. The 29-year-old’s trophy cabinet is hardly bare, with two league titles, an FA Cup and two Carling Cups, but after three semi-final defeats it is the Champions League that he covets.

It has been so near, so far for Lampard, who was sitting only two yards from the gleaming trophy as he delivered an impassioned speech yesterday. “I hope I can top the semi-final,” he said. “That was a big moment for me, but tomorrow is potentially a defining moment for the players in our team. Some players have already won the Champions League, but most of us haven’t. My defining moment will be if I can be among my team-mates and squad lifting the cup.

“We’ve achieved a lot at Chelsea in the last four or five years and been very close to this final. Every year we missed out has made us even hungrier. The losing finalist is pretty much forgotten in history, so we’re looking to put ‘Champions League winner’ next to our names.”

An emotional night will be given added poignancy if it turns out to be Lampard’s last appearance for Chelsea, although he is keen to stay if the right contract can be agreed, despite interest from Inter Milan. Much will depend on the destination of José Mourinho, Avram Grant’s predecessor as Chelsea manager, who is thought to be wanted by the Italian club. But Lampard gave little away yesterday beyond stating that he hoped to use the success of Harry Redknapp, his uncle, in winning the FA Cup with Portsmouth as an inspiration.

“I’m very happy at Chelsea and it’s been the best days of my career,” Lampard said. “I’ve said that time and time again. Myself and the club have both said we’d speak about the contract in the summer. My mind’s completely on the game. I was at Wembley to see Harry win it and it was a great day for the family, particularly with Harry and his career. He deserved that. I’m sure he and all the Redknapp family will be supporting me. Hopefully it will be a family double.”

Drogba could also be playing his last game for the club, but his attitude has also softened in recent days. “For quite a few weeks I have heard people saying that I’m going to be moving here, there and everywhere,” he said. “But nobody has mentioned Chelsea as my destination. I am no longer as determined to leave as I was a few months ago. My family is happy in London and I am as well.”

The striker added that he expects a pre-match warning from Lubos Michel, the referee this evening. “I’ve always had the feeling that everybody regards me as a diver,” Drogba said. “Now in the Premier League and the Champions League, too, referees come to see me before games and tell me, ‘No diving today, eh?’

“Even though I tell them I’m a footballer, not a swimmer, I don’t think they listen to me.”