Grant’s men made it 3-0 soon after the restart when Lampard’s corner from the left was not dealt with and converted from close range by Salomon Kalou (48).

Gran said:
“I have confidence in my team. From day one I have had full confidence in the team, even though most of the people didn’t believe we would have a good year. So far it has been a good development and that pleases me more than the results. We know it was a bad day in the League Cup final. We were only team from the big four to make the final. We showed since then character and good attitude. That is what is important. It’s what I like. Goalkeeper Peter Cech missed the game with an ankle injury and will require a scan. Carlo Cudicini deputised but was not called into action until late on. ‘I think Carlo, in any game he played, was very good this year. Carlo was very good today. He is a good goalkeeper. For two or three weeks we didn’t have any injured players. Peter has injured in his ankle in training, we hope it won’t be for long.

Lampard picked up a second-half booking for diving but that was the only sour point on an evening when Chelsea joined Arsenal in the last eight.

Lampard said on Sky Sports:
“I was asking for a penalty but I don’t mind not being given a penalty. But to call me a diver, that’s not the way I play and it’s unfortunate because it puts me on a yellow.’

After booking a quarter-final berth with all four English teams still in the competition, lampard added:
“What will be will be. If all four of us go through – and Liverpool are in a good position – there will be a great chance of an all English match. It’s obviously great for England if we’re all in there but if we draw one we will have to do deal with it.

Lampard and Ballack in midfield meant Michael Essien was on the bench. Nicolas Anelka was also a substitute, with Didier Drogba playing in attack.

Grant add again:
“We can play with more than one formation and they can play together. Nico was the best player on Saturday, but we are trying to use all the players. Some players are more fresh than others. It’s very important when you have so many big games. We continue like this, so we will use all the players.

Olympiacos coach Panagiotis Lemonis felt his side were already undone after their terrible start. Lemonis said:
“After it was 2-0, obviously it was very difficult. I said the first 20 minutes would be important. ‘It was proved that we couldn’t respond. But we played against a very experienced team.’ Chelsea captain John Terry dedicated the victory to Frank Steer, from the club’s backroom staff, whose mother has passed away.