LONDON — Chelsea interim coach Rafael Benitez has heralded a changing of the guard at the Premier League club by saying that new players are needed for them to carry on winning. The Londoners' joint-second top scorer of all time, Frank Lampard, looks unlikely to be offered a new deal with the 34-year-old's contract expiring at the end of the season, his agent says. Media reports have said other fan favorites Ashley Cole and captain John Terry could also be sacrificed in the next two years after Chelsea showed it means business by letting Champions League-winning hero Didier Drogba leave in May. “I think it's always easy to talk about the legends and you have to have a lot of respect for them,” Benitez told British newspapers ahead of Capital One (League) Cup semifinal first leg against Swansea City. “What they've achieved for this club has been fantastic. But you have to have new players and carry on winning games. That's what the fans are expecting.” The European champion, fourth in the Premier League, also has an eye on big wage earners given the onset of UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules where it has to break even or risk exclusion from European competition. “Everyone knows the legends who have been here and what they have achieved. But at the same time you have to think about the future. You cannot be waiting.” Ba: Torres still main man Demba Ba insists his arrival at Chelsea has done nothing to affect Fernando Torres's position as the main striker at Stamford Bridge. Ba made the perfect start to his Blues career following his £7.5 million ($12 million) move from Newcastle United, scoring twice in the 5-1 FA Cup third round victory at Southampton while Torres remained on the bench. Torres is expected to be restored to the line-up. Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez also could pair the two strikers from the start. Ba's impact means Chelsea immediately appear much less reliant on the inconsistent Torres and he may well challenge the Spain international's position as the first choice forward in the longer term. But the Senegal striker has made it clear he sees Torres as the senior partner as he attempts to establish himself at his new club. “I'm here to help the group and the team; it's not about taking the position of someone else. I know Fernando is the main man. I've just come, I will learn from people and I will learn from him as well because his history is much bigger than mine.” — Agencies
