Jose Mourinho's side surrendered the title to United on Sunday, but they have a chance to show they are still a match for the champions at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and then in the FA Cup final on May 19.

Lampard will join his team-mates in forming a guard of honour for United before kick-off, but his passionate defence of Chelsea's position as the English game's top dogs makes it is safe to assume he will do so grudgingly.

"The best team in the country wins the league, that's what you say, especially when you win it," Lampard said. "But I think we've got the best squad.

"We've got a huge game coming up against United in the Cup final, but words don't mean much if you start saying 'we're the best.' What matters is performance and we've had to perform against a lot of things this year.

"There are a lot of reasons we lost the league and some of them weren't in our control. We can't make excuses and have to give credit to United who've had a great season, but I believe that without the injuries to Petr and John and many, many more there wouldn't be that gap in points.

"To me that's just a fact. But it's no excuse and all credit to United for what they've achieved. But we'll be back."

Lampard insists Chelsea will return stronger than ever after learning the lessons of a traumatic season.

The most important issue to be resolved now Mourinho's future seems settled is the failure of Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack to assimilate themselves into the win-at-all-costs mentality of the Chelsea dressing room.

Mourinho hinted after Sunday's match at Arsenal that he was unhappy with the efforts of a small group of his players and it seems likely Shevchenko and Ballack were uppermost in his thoughts.

While Lampard refused to single out any of his colleagues, the England midfielder was equally vociferous in his belief that not every player was pulling in the same direction.

"We've fought against a lot of things, big injuries to big players at big times in the season and points we wouldn't have lost we lost," he said.

"There've been other problems at the club and they have to be addressed, simple as that. We cannot and have not to lose the spirit that has got us where we are, with certain people.

"You'll emphasise what I mean when you saw how we played today on the pitch, with 11 players fighting, playing and should have won the game with 10 men.

"That's who are and what we're about. Next year we have to make sure we're focussed on being champions again. If we keep saying there's things we've been battling against we have to put them right.

"It's been difficult, but you have to focus and learn through all these things. Sometimes it's not as easy as other clubs, but the only way to deal with it is to come through it with a bit more knowledge and a bit more strength."

Alex Ferguson has no such worries after leading United to his ninth league title in 20 years at Old Trafford.

This success ranks as arguably his most impressive given Chelsea's resources and total dominance of the league for the last two seasons.

Ferguson and Mourinho have maintained a relatively cordial relationship despite the tense nature of the title race and the rivals will share a bottle of wine after the match.

"It was a difficult task given the amount of money Chelsea have," Ferguson said. "They were also the most resilient opponents we have ever come across.

"But I am sure Jose understands winning and losing are twins in a way. You have to deal with them in the same way. When you win, you don't need to gloat, when you have a defeat you don't go bananas, you accept it.

"He was very complimentary after the Arsenal match yesterday and I will bring him a decent bottle of wine to make sure his tastes are looked after."