SOCCER:Frank Lampard has denied Chelsea are in the middle of a crisis after the champions failed to win in the Premiership for a third successive match, but the England midfielder said recent results do leave his team-mates with a problem.
Chelsea's stuttering run means they trail Manchester United by six points but Lampard, pointing to the belief within Jose Mourinho's squad, remains confident the league leaders can be overhauled.
"Sometimes you have to remind yourselves as a team that it is nothing major because the fact people are asking questions after two or three draws is a statement about what a team we are and what a squad we are," said Lampard.
"It is certainly not a crisis. It is something we need to address, because we are not used to drawing games and not getting three points for three games on the trot. We are used to winning games and we want to win games again."
The 0-0 draw with Aston Villa on Tuesday - the first time Chelsea have gone three league games without a win since Mourinho took over - means only six points have been collected from a possible 12. Lampard conceded that that total was disappointing, despite the absence of key players.
"Even though we haven't had John Terry and Peter Cech and Arjen Robben and Joe Cole, we expected to get more points than we have done over the Christmas period," he said.
"(But) it works both ways. We dropped points we shouldn't have done and Manchester United haven't capitalised in the way they might have done. Ourselves and Manchester United know the situation now and there is still a long way to go. I am confident we can pull the gap back.
"There are many points to play for and we've got a lot of confidence in this team. That's the reason we've been champions two years on the trot."
Lampard believes the return of Terry and Cech from injury will give Chelsea a psychological lift. Cech's recovery from a serious head injury was quicker than expected.
"For me he (Cech) is the best goalkeeper in the world," said Lampard. "Peter coming back is a big bonus, especially with the sort of injury he had."
Lampard squandered a gilt-edged opportunity late on against Villa when he volleyed over, his miss being one of several chances passed up on the night.
Meanwhile, Michael Ballack has shrugged off criticism by Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, insisting his former boss is trying to "twist" the events that led to his move to Chelsea.
The Germany captain was responding to remarks made last month when Rummenigge claimed Bayern were right to allow their talisman to leave on a free transfer.
Ballack told Sport Bild magazine: "Mr Rummenigge should just say the truth and accept that now and again a player may choose another club over his."
Chelsea have joined Tottenham and West Ham in registering an interest in Bolton's centre-half Tal Ben Haim. The Israeli is out of contract in June and despite Bolton's offer of a generous new deal he is likely to look elsewhere.
Guardian Service
