Lamps fires Blues

Lampard: Inspirational

So it will be a Chelsea v Manchester United final in Moscow in just under three weeks.

The Blues sealed their place in the final after beating Liverpool 3-2 (4-3 aggregate) at Stamford Bridge in a cracking encounter.

Much of the headlines will deservedly go to Frank Lampard who returned to the side after compassionate leave following the death of his mother.

Lampard showed great strength of character to step up and take a penalty to put the Blues in the driving seat after Fernando Torres cancelled out Didier Drogba’s opener.

You would have forgiven him for letting Michael Ballack take the spot-kick responsibilities after the German fired Chelsea to victory over Manchester United at the weekend.

It was a true moment of sporting character, only he will know what was going through his mind as he stepped up to the spot – and as the ball crashed into the back of the net the inevitable release brought a tear to Lampard’s eye as he honoured his late mother by kissing his black armband.

Didier Drogba silenced Rafa Benitez by adding a second in extra-time. Liverpool grabbed a late goal through Ryan Babel but by that time the talk of the terraces was how to bag the all important visa for the final.

It’s almost the end of a fantastic season and Chelsea and Manchester United will go at it toe-to-toe in the Premier League and the Champions League.

United have the edge on the domestic front but in Europe the conspiracy theories have already begun of Abramovich’s influence in Russia.

United need to be on top of their game to defeat a rampant Chelsea, they also need to make sure they pack their earplugs as fire alarms have a nasty habit of sounding in hotels at inappropriate times.

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