Chelsea v Manchester City: manager Rafael Benítez to drop Frank Lampard and ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Lampard admitted that he did not know whether he would start and it was put to him that he had previously always been an automatic selection.

"I don't think anyone is an automatic selection with the manager at the minute as we see because there are lots of games and he's changing it regularly. We're not sure we're playing on Sunday. I'm like everyone else: I want to play every game but it's not possible."

Lampard and Terry have started every FA Cup semi-final and final since 2006, playing every minute as Chelsea have won seven times at Wembley on the way to lifting the trophy in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

The sense of changing times will be further underlined tomorrow by the unavailability through injury of Ashley Cole and the absence on such a big occasion for Chelsea of Didier Drogba.

"I don't think our record gives us an advantage, particularly in a game against Manchester City's quality," Lampard said. "If they're at their best and we're not, they'll probably win the game and vice versa."

Terry also started in Moscow on Thursday and Benítez is expected to rotate his squad on Sunday by recalling Branislav Ivanovic in central defence alongside David Luiz. Ryan Bertrand should also return at left-back while Demba Ba is likely to replace Fernando Torres as the main central striker.

Benítez has consistently explained his selection decisions with reference to the fixture schedule and qualification for the Europa League semi-final means that Chelsea are facing as many as 12 matches in the final five weeks of the season.

Benítez believes that this schedule – his team have also played five times in the past fortnight – will give Manchester City an advantage. "It's always an advantage," he said. "I have too many games and we have to use the squad. The players are doing really well.

"I think I have done a good job. If we finish in the top three and win one of the trophies or both, I will be really pleased and really proud."

There was some relief in a Europa League semi-final draw on Friday that has meant a relatively short journey to Basle in Switzerland.