Amsterdam:Young Chelsea side announced their arrival in the European stage on Wednesday after Michy Batshuayi's late winner fired them to a 1-0 Champions League win at Ajax that puts them square in the fight for the knockout stages.
Substitute Batshuayi struck in the 86th minute to seal a hugely impressive win in Amsterdam that puts Chelsea level on six points with last year's semi-finalists at the top of Group H.
Lampard hugs Batshuayi after the latter scored a goal Valencia will have the chance to draw alongside their group rivals with a win at Lille later on Wednesday.
"It's feels huge, which always scares me because there's a lot to do. We're entitled to be excited about the way we played tonight," Lampard told reporters.
"That's the blueprint. No excuses from now to dip from that."
Frank Lampard's side had to ride their luck in the Johan Cruyff Arena, with Quincy Promes' first half tap-in ruled out for the tightest of offsides and Edson Alvarez hitting the post with a diving header near the hour mark.
Substitute Batshuayi struck in the 86th minute to seal a hugely impressive win However, a youthful Chelsea showed they could compete with Europe's top sides despite losing Eden Hazard in the summer, going toe-to-toe with one of the continent's most dynamic attacking teams in a tight contest before winning their sixth straight match in all competitions.
They face Ajax at Stamford Bridge in the next round of games in a clash that on Wednesday's evidence looks to be the key in deciding who tops the group.
"They're still babies in terms of Champions League minutes... football will continue to give you tests all the time to I don't want to say they're there or 'this is it'," added Lampard.
"But I thought the balance of young players that are learning quickly and the experienced players who they rely on to set examples feels good."
