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Shootout win was never in doubt: Lampard
Frank Lampard began to think there was no way back for Chelsea in the Champions League final as the minutes ticked down with Bayern Munich leading 1-0, but when the match went to a penalty shootout he had no doubts the trophy was coming to London.
-Chelsea storm final frontier to win Champions League
Saturday's final ended 1-1 at the Allianz Arena and after missing their first kick in the shootout, Chelsea battled back to win it 4-3.
"I admit when we were trailing 1-0 with about a minute left, I wasn't so sure," said Lampard.
"Once it went to penalties, I thought there was no way we were going to lose. I thought, we are going to win this."
'It wasn't going to be a repeat of Moscow'
Lampard's confidence was remarkable given the circumstances.
-Drogba fires Chelsea to Champions League glory
A glance through the record books showed no English team had beaten a German one on penalties either.
But Lampard said the heartbreak of losing in the final four years ago to Manchester United on penalties spurred his team to victory.
"It wasn't going to be a repeat of Moscow, we couldn't have stood that again," he added.
'And when the penalties started I was sure'
Thomas Mueller headed Bayern ahead in the 83rd minute before Didier Drogba made it 1-1 in the final two minutes. The night still seemed to be heading Bayern's way when they moved 3-1 ahead in the penalty shootout after Juan Mata missed Chelsea's first spot kick.
However, Ivica Olic missed for Bayern and when Schweinsteiger struck the post the stage was set for Ivorian Drogba to write his name into Chelsea folklore and stun Bayern's supporters into shocked silence.
Chelsea not only stopped Bayern winning the title for a fifth time, they also became the first London side to win Europe's top club competition in its 57-year history and the third English team to beat Bayern after Aston Villa in 1982 and Manchester United in 1999.
Lampard continued: "I really wasn't sure there was a way back and I was thinking well, perhaps it wasn't meant to be after all ... then Didier equalised with a minute to go and Petr (Cech) saved Arjen Robben's penalty in extra time and I thought, 'we are going to do this'.
"And when the penalties started I was sure."
'Didier was the main man tonight'
The 33-year-old heaped praise on Drogba, whose contract is set to expire and could well have played his last match for the club.
"I have to say, Didier was the main man tonight, and he dug us out of a hole there.
-Chelsea, first London club to win Champions League
"The man is a Chelsea legend, he is a hero, without him we're not here. He scores the goals in the big games."
Asked if this victory could mark the break-up of a side that have largely been together for most of the last decade, he said: "No, I don't see why it should.
"Teams are always changing, but why should we stop now? We want to carry on, move fowards. We've won the FA Cup and now the Champions League and the determination and spirit we have shown, its been fantastic."
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