Frank Lampard has urged Avram Grant to find a settled starting XI at Chelsea or risk falling short in the quest for honours on four fronts. The midfielder, frustrated at being left out for the Champions League tie at Olympiakos on Tuesday night when he felt "fresh", is determined to be a part of that team.
"I don't know how much rotation there'll be in the future but it's important we get a settled team in the run-in," said Lampard, who hopes to return to the starting line-up against Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's League Cup final.
"Any good team I've been involved in has had a pretty settled line-up and it'll be down to the manager to find that."
Grant's decision to omit Lampard and John Terry, the captain, for the first leg of the last 16 tie that finished 0-0 was surprising, largely because the England internationals have long been considered "Untouchables", the name that Jose Mourinho, the former manager, gave to his automatic choices.
The pair have only just returned from lengthy injury absences - Lampard from six weeks out with thigh trouble; Terry from three months out with broken bones in his foot - but Grant's selection appeared to spell the end for the Untouchables. "I don't know about that," said Michael Ballack, another of Mourinho's select group.
"They are still very, very important players for us but you have to be careful (after injuries). I know this myself, having had eight months out (with an ankle problem). It's not an easy time when you come back, you can't play every game straight away. JT played on Saturday (against Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup) and so did Lampsy."
While Grant's decision was influenced by the proximity of Sunday's derby with Tottenham at Wembley, Lampard insisted that after spending so long on the sidelines, he had "a lot in (his) legs" for the business end of the season.
Chelsea, whose squad is back to full strength after a spate of injuries and the African Cup of Nations, have an FA Cup quarter-final at Barnsley next month and are eight points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League.
"I want to play," said Lampard. "I don't want to miss any more games. I think John (Terry) and I would have been fresh anyway, because a cup final against Tottenham is a huge game. We understand the reasons for not playing, you have to be mature as a professional, but it doesn't mean you can't be frustrated."
Chelsea have begun an investigation into antisemitic death threats that were sent to Grant at the club's training ground on Tuesday, in a package which also contained a mysterious powder that was found to be harmless. Death threats of a sexual nature were made to Grant's wife Tzofit.
Meanwhile, returning striker Didier Drogba admitted Chelsea could have done more against the Greeks and says they will have to improve their game if they are to make it into the next round.
Grant now has a fully-fit squad to choose from for the first time since he took charge and the Ivory Coast striker admitted that "is a big problem for the manager" as he tries to settle on his best side.
Drogba said: "We had a difficult game and could have done better. The good thing is we have a second game at home and have to improve if we want to beat Olympiacos.
"I am looking forward to playing with Nicolas Anelka but I am just happy to be back and playing with my mates.
"I hope we can do great things but don't forget the other players. We have a big squad and I hope everyone will be committed and give everything for what we want to achieve."
