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Page last updated at 16:16 GMT, Monday, 25 May 2009 17:16 UK

Lampard eager to reward Hiddink

FA Cup final: Chelsea v Everton
Venue: Wembley Stadium Date: Sat, 30 May Kick-off: 1500 BST Coverage: Live on ITV1, Setanta Sports, BBC Radio 5 Live. Live text updates on BBC Sport website.


Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard (right) and the club's interim manager Guus Hiddink
Lampard has praised the impact made by Hiddink

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard says the club's players want to win the FA Cup for interim boss Guus Hiidink.

The game against Everton on Saturday will be Hiddink's last in charge before he returns to manage Russia on a full-time basis.

"A season without silverware is seen as a failure and that's pretty well right, if you look at the quality of the squad," said Lampard.

"We'd love to leave him with a trophy as a thank you. We all feel the same."

Hiddink took over after the exit of Luiz Felipe Scolari and has won praise for the way in which he has turned the club's fortunes around.

"We've been a very tight-knit group since he came in," added Lampard. "The man has been a pleasure, not just as a manager but as a person."

Lampard missed the Premier League win at Sunderland on the final day of the season but should be fit for the Wembley showpiece against the Toffees.

Centre-back Alex should also be available to Hiddink, whose only other doubt is Juliano Belletti after the versatile defender picked up a knock and had to be substituted at the Stadium of Light.

606: DEBATE

Hiddink has insisted he will not be extending his stay and AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has been linked with the post.

And Lampard added: "There will be continuity here whatever happens, I hope.

"It's important that players get the hump Manchester United won the league and that we're not in the Champions League final, and make sure we put it right.

"Whatever decision the owner makes, let's hope it works. If it doesn't, the club are within their rights to make it work.

"If you took away the pressure tomorrow, I wouldn't know what to do with myself."

Meanwhile, in the Everton camp, manager David Moyes hopes that skipper Phil Neville's success with his former club Manchester United will hold the team in good stead on the big stage at Wembley.

"I must pay credit to my captain. He is a terrific leader and always has been having come from a great club with wonderful traditions of winning," Moyes explained.

"He understands what you have to do, and maybe it has taken time for people to realise what he is all about.

"But I could see the work he was doing on and off the pitch, his preparations for games. Every time he prepares as if it was a cup final and that says a lot about the man.

"But as well as that he wasn't prepared to let any players slack, he would let them know about it. And you can see that from the club he comes from, that is the way they do it and he is very good at it."



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see also
Hiddink happy to bow out in final
18 Apr 09 |  FA Cup
Everton seek Cup ticketing review
22 May 09 |  Everton
Everton fan's FA Cup guard honour
20 May 09 |  Merseyside
Jagielka hails Everton character
19 May 09 |  Everton
Jagielka knee surgery a success
30 Apr 09 |  Everton
Wembley to re-lay turf for finals
24 Apr 09 |  Football


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