Lampard: Sympathy for Drogba

Related links

Teams

• Chelsea

Players

• Frank Lampard
• Didier Drogba

Also see

• Chelsea fixtures
• Chelsea stats
• Chelsea forum

Chelsea star Frank Lampard has challenged his team-mates to help shoulder the goalscoring burden after the injury to Didier Drogba.

Drogba faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee ligament injury in Chelsea's goalless draw with CFR Cluj in the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea have seen their options hit by a number of injuries to several key players in the last few weeks.

Drogba's injury leaves Nicolas Anelka as the only out-and-out striker at Stamford Bridge and Lampard knows he and his team-mates must help fill the goalscoring void left by the Ivorian's absence.

"If Didier is out for a while, we will have to pitch in with goals from all around the team, which we can do, though the situation is not ideal," said Lampard.

"If you're a bit thin on the ground, maybe it's not so easy to rotate. Nicolas is a top-class striker, and we also have Salomon and young Franco di Santo.

"The experience is not really there, but I believe the quality is.

Bad news

"I hope it's not as bad as it looked and that he can be back as soon as possible."

Chelsea struggled throughout their draw with CFR Cluj and only Petr Cech's superb save from Alvaro Pereira's shot prevented the Blues from suffering their first defeat of the season.

Lampard admitted the Blues failed to hit the heights in Romania and he always expected a tough encounter against the Champions League new boys.

"Normally, the group stage throws up one like this. Entertainment not very high, it is a tight game. In that situation it is important not to lose," added Lampard.

"People took notice after the Roma result and we knew what we were up against. Teams in Romania are technically strong.

"Petr is the best keeper in the world. He makes those saves time and again."