Ba says Torres still Chelsea's main man up front

Demba Ba insists his arrival at Chelsea has done nothing to affect Fernando Torres' position as the main striker at Stamford Bridge.

Ba made the perfect start to his Blues career following his 7.5 million pound ($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 lineup when Premier League rivals Swansea City visits west London for the first leg of the League Cup semifinals on Wednesday, although Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez could pair the two strikers from the start.

Ba's impact means Chelsea immediately appears 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 just want to enjoy my football, it's not about pressure, it's about playing a game I like, and that's what I'm doing," Ba said.

"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."

And the forward claims he has already benefited from playing in front of European champion Chelsea's playmakers, including Juan Mata and Frank Lampard.

He said: "It makes football look easy, I just try to run in behind and create space for the midfielders because I know when they have space they will be dangerous.

"When you have players like this, that understand football perfectly, you just have to run and the ball will come into your feet, and that's what I tried to do.

"I'm very pleased, I saw it when I played against them, but they are world-class players and when you play with them it's completely different. They create spaces, provide good passes and they are very intelligent in their game."

A convincing victory in the first leg will turn thoughts towards a place in the Wembley final and divert attention away from Lampard's contract situation.

Steve Kutner, the England midfielder's agent, insisted Lampard, 34, has been told he will definitely not be offered a new deal.

"Chelsea executives told Frank in Japan then again re-confirmed with his agent after the Everton victory that, in no circumstances, will he be offered a new contract to stay at Chelsea Football Club after the end of this season," said Kutner. "Nothing since has changed in any respect."

Swansea was held 2-2 by Arsenal in the FA Cup but manager Michael Laudrup opted to rest a number of key players in that game, placing Michu and Pablo Hernandez on the bench and omitting Ashley Williams and Angel Rangel from the squad.

All are set to start at Stamford Bridge and Laudrup believes the side's success in forcing a replay against Arsenal confirms the strength in depth of his squad.

Laudrup will be forced to draw on those resources during a testing month in which it will play at least six more games, even if it defeats Arsenal in the return to set up a fourth round FA Cup trip to second-tier Brighton.

"It is very busy but when you play at the highest level you always want to win," said Denmark great Laudrup. "When you play the big sides away from home it's special for the players.

"If we can continue with this positive momentum it gives a lot to the team. We may lose two or three games now but nobody can take away from us what we've achieved already this season."

(China Daily 01/09/2013 page22)