Chelsea's Frank Lampard poses the main threat - Benfica's Ola John
- Published
Frank Lampard is the Chelsea player who Benfica are most worried about, said the Portuguese side's winger Ola John ahead of the Europa League final.
Lampard, 34, became the Blues' all-time top goalscorer last weekend.
When asked which opposition footballer he was most wary of, 20-year-old John replied: "Frank Lampard of course - he is a good player."
"He [has] played there for a long time, he can change the game with his goals, with his assists, a good pass."
Lampard got his 202nd and 203rd strikes for Chelsea in Saturday's 2-1 win against Aston Villa, and has now scored 17 goals this season despite not being a regular starter.
The England international was also on the scoresheet the last time Chelsea and Benfica met, slotting home a penalty in last season's Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie from which Chelsea emerged as 3-1 aggregate victors.
Benfica's reputation was forged in the 1960s when, inspired by legendary striker Eusebio - who will be at the game in Amsterdam - they twice won the European Cup.
Since those days, they have lost their last six European finals, a run which head coach Jorge Jesus is determined to end.
"Benfica is a club that throughout its history has had an excellent performance in Europe" said the 58-year-old, who has claimed one league and three cups since taking charge in 2009.
"It created a name for itself in the 1960s and 1970s that was there alongside Real Madrid and AC Milan.
"It hasn't been the same since, but Benfica has recovered some of its prestige over the last few years and we want to create that kind of international prestige again.
"We will be in a big European final and we did well in the Champions League last year and the Europa League the year before.
"We are working towards an improved image of the club in Europe and that will be helped tomorrow if we win because it also gives us the chance of playing in the European Super Cup."
Benfica, like Chelsea, have made the final after previously finishing third in their Champions League group and entering at the last-32 stage.
They will be looking to recover from the blow of being knocked off the top of the Portuguese league table last weekend, when new leaders Porto inflicted their first defeat of the season through an injury-time Kelvin goal.
- Published15 May 2013
- Published14 May 2013
- Published14 May 2013
- Published13 May 2013
- Published2 May 2013
- Published2 May 2013