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Past defeats against Liverpool hurting Terry
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April 22, 2008 10:19 IST

The pain of losing two Champions League semi-finals to Liverpool is driving Chelsea captain John Terry to ensure he does not suffer the same fate for a third time.

Chelsea, beaten by a controversial Luis Garcia goal in 2005 and again knocked out by Liverpool in a penalty shootout last season, have a chance for revenge in Tuesday's semi-final first leg at Anfield.

"That burning is still there when we have lost to Liverpool the two previous occasions and that will never go away," Terry told reporters on Monday.

"But one thing that will ease that will be going to the final and lifting that trophy."

Chelsea have lost three Champions League semi-finals in four seasons, they were also beaten by Monaco in 2004, but that statistic was of little concern to manager Avram Grant.

"We have lost at Liverpool two times but that belongs to history now. We can create history, that is our aim," said the Israeli.

"It is important for us to look at these games we face as the other results are not so important."

UNDERFIRE GRANT

Grant has been underfire from the fans and media but he can answer his critics with two good results this week.

"I don't need to speak about myself. I don't need to justify myself," he said.

"The results speak for themselves. We are here in the semi-finals ... and on Saturday we play Manchester United [Images] and challenge for the (Premier League) title because we are the only side that can challenge them. Those are the facts."

Grant confirmed England [Images] midfielder Frank Lampard [Images] would be available despite missing two games to spend time with his sick mother, who has pneumonia.

"I respect Frank very much and what he is doing for the club this week," he said. "It is not an easy situation but he has given everything for the club.

"He has trained by himself. I gave him every freedom to do things by himself because sometimes there are things that are more important than football."

The Anfield crowd are acknowledged as one of the most vocal in Europe but Grant said Chelsea had the experience to deal with it.

"The atmosphere is very good but we played in Fenerbache (in the quarter-finals) and the atmosphere there was great as well," said the Israeli.

"I think it is a 12th man but on the pitch it is 11 versus 11. We respect this atmosphere but what is important is what happens on the pitch and my players are very experienced in these matters."



UEFA Champions League 2007-08: The Complete Coverage

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