Benitez: Lampard must prove worth

Rafael Benitez told Frank Lampard it was up to him to prove Chelsea wrong over their decision not to offer him a new contract.

England midfielder Lampard last week appeared resigned to leaving Stamford
Bridge when his current deal expires at the end of the season.

But the 34-year-old still has it within his power to make himself indispensable to the club where he has become a legend during 11-and-a-half glorious years.

Interim manager Benitez said: "The best way to do things is to perform on the pitch.

"For a player, it's easier even than for a manager.

"For a manager, it depends on other people.

"For a player, you can go there and show everyone that you are the best and it will be easier, any conversation."

He added: "All of us are professional, we try to do our best, and after see what happens.

"But the answer is to be even better on the pitch."

Lampard's bid to do just that has been seriously hampered by injury in 2012 but he has started Chelsea's last two matches and looks set for a regular spot in the side as captain, including Sunday's Barclays Premier League game with Aston Villa.

Benitez said: "He's an important player for us.

"He's a good player, he has quality, experience, he can help the team in the build-up, and he can help the team scoring goals."

And, despite his contract saga, he is fully motivated to do so, according to Benitez.

"I can see him working very hard in the training session, and working hard during the games," Benitez said.

"So, I don't see any difference."

Proof of this came in Lampard's reaction to not starting Chelsea's Club World Cup semi-final against Monterrey last week.

"He wanted to play from the beginning in the first game and he was not quite happy," Benitez said.

"My job is trying to bring the best out of each player.

"So I will try to bring the best from him against Aston Villa, against Norwich and every game."

That is just about the limit of Benitez's influence and he admitted it would be "easier" if he had more of a say on comings and goings.

But he added: "In this case, I knew what was going on."

As well as helping Benitez on the pitch, Lampard could also aid the Spaniard off it, particularly in improving his relationship with Chelsea fans.

Four wins in five has not harmed Benitez's hopes of quelling the supporter revolt against his appointment, while it seems he has already managed to win some of them over.

Revealing he had spoken to several fans at the staff Christmas party on Thursday, he said: "I was just 15 minutes at the party and talking with people and everybody was very, very positive."

He added: "I said at the beginning that we have to win together, so it will be easier always if the fans are behind the team and supporting the team and we don't have any distraction.

"That is the way, for me, to carry on, trying to play good football and winning games, and I'm sure that they will appreciate this."

Winning games could become all the more difficult if Chelsea fail to sign a new striker when the transfer window opens, especially if they sell Daniel Sturridge to Liverpool.

Benitez refused to be drawn on reports a fee had been agreed for Sturridge, confirming only the England forward was fit again after a hamstring injury.

But would he pick a player who is unlikely to still be at the club next month?

"It depends on the player, it depends on the situation," Benitez said.

"But the main thing is you have to be convinced that the player will give 100%.

"Today [Friday] at training, he was very, very good."