Demba Ba delight at debut double

DEMBA BA has been on board for only a couple of days but he already knows his place in the Chelsea pecking order.

So when the Blues were awarded a late penalty in this FA Cup stroll, there was no chance of the two-goal striker demanding the spot-kick to complete a debut hat-trick.

For penalty duties remain firmly in the grasp of Frank Lampard, a man who is determined to break every club record possible before packing his bags at the end of the season.

And Ba was not about to upset the applecart by taking on a Stamford Bridge legend.

Asked whether he even considered asking Lampard for the 83rd-minute kick, the man who used to take Newcastle’s penalties laughed: “No, I’m not THAT crazy.”

And Ba had plenty to chuckle about after slotting straight into the Chelsea line-up just 24 hours after completing his £7.5million move.

He admitted: “I’ve never had a better debut than that. It’s been a great day and now I’m going to enjoy it a little bit.

“On Wednesday morning I was preparing myself to play for Newcastle against Everton when I got a text from the manager telling me that I needed to go to see him.

“From that moment I knew everything was fixed and I would be going to Chelsea.

“I travelled down to London as quickly as possible to watch their game against QPR and the next day I had a medical.

“It has been a very busy few days for me so now I am just going to have one day off chilling with my kids and relaxing.”

The Senegal international is just as relaxed about his role at Chelsea and accepts that he is not going to be an automatic starter every week.

He said: “It doesn’t matter to me what formation we play, whether we have one up front or two.
“If I have to play with Fernando Torres I’ll play with him, if I have to be on the bench I’ll be on the bench and wait for the chance.

“And if the manager puts me on the pitch I’ll prove I can play. And that’s all there is to it.

“At Chelsea you have world-class players who understand football perfectly. I saw that every time I played against them but to play in the same team as them is something different.

“You just have to make the runs and the ball comes to your feet. They create good spaces and make the right passes. They are intelligent in their game so they make it easier for me.

“I just try to run in behind and create space for them as well. I know that when they have some space they will be very dangerous.

“I have no idea yet what I can achieve with Chelsea. I’ll see what happens in the next weeks and months. I’m just looking to learn about the players and style of play.”

Ba insisted he was not even aware that he applied the finishing touch to Chelsea’s opening goal but there was no doubting his second as he swept in Eden Hazard’s low pass.

He said: “It’s a great feeling when you see the fans feeling so happy.”

But he knows the followers he left behind on Tyneside are not quite so pleased right now.

He claimed: “Newcastle fans won’t be too happy but the true fans will understand why I have moved.

“They were some of the best fans I have ever played for and I just want to thank them for what they’ve done for me.

“It’s not like I wanted to leave Newcastle when they were in trouble but it is not every day that a club like Chelsea comes in for you.

“Newcastle is a big club with a big history but, with all the respect I have for them, Chelsea is a step forward for me so the decision to join them was an easy one.”

Yet while Blues fans were delighted to welcome a new hero to their ranks, they continue to voice their anger at the club’s decision not to offer a new contract to Lampard.

Despite reports to the contrary, no talks have been held with the England star, 34, about a new deal and both parties are resigned to parting in the summer.

It is an awkward situation for interim boss Rafa Benitez, who has no say in the matter and is trapped between the orders of the owner and the desires of the supporters.

Benitez privately accepts he will never win over the fans but still hopes to prove to the owner that he deserves the job on a permanent basis.

The FA Cup might not count for much in Roman Abramovich’s estimation but, if Chelsea can lift the trophy for the fifth time in seven years, it will not do Benitez’s long-term employment prospects any harm.

They won easily at St Mary’s despite falling behind to a Jay Rodriguez opener. Ba levelled, Victor Moses and Branislav Ivanovic put the visitors in charge before Ba’s second and that late Lamps penalty.

Benitez said: “If the players are focused and have the quality, you can always progress in the cups.”