John Terry will be offered the chance to lift the Europa League trophy with Frank Lampard should Chelsea defeat Benfica on Wednesday night.
Chelsea's captain was mocked relentlessly last year for changing into his uniform and lifting the Champions League cup with Frank Lampard, even though he had been suspended and did not play one minute of the final.
Now, however, Terry has fallen behind the new Coach Rafa Benitez' plans, but has played regularly in the Europa League since December and traveled on Tuesday with the squad to Amsterdam despite his ankle injury.
Lampard said: "I don't want to tempt fate but it will be the same as last year. We win it together and I don't think it matters who picks up the trophy as long as we win it. It was the same situation with John last year and it's very unfortunate. When you have been here a long time trying to win cups and leagues, it doesn't matter if you're not playing in the final game because you've still been involved in the process. As captain of the club, John will be up there with us."
Benítez will also be without Eden Hazard (hamstring) and Ryan Bertrand (knee), leaving only 18 fully fit players. Victor Moses is also a doubt after suffering a thigh injury but he did join the team during training last night at the Amsterdam Arena.
The absence of Hazard and possibly Moses has almost guaranteed Lampard a more free attacking role, in what can possibly be his last final ever with Chelsea.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
