Chelsea manager Rafa Benitez said sentiment won't dictate his decision on playing Frank Lampard, as the midfielder targets the all-time goalscoring record of Bobby Tambling.
Lampard has been stuck on 200 goals for a month now, just two shy of Tambling's club record of 202.
The Chelsea legend was an unused substitute in the 2-1 F.A. Cup semifinal loss to Manchester City, as his window to reach that magical mark continues to shrink, with the midfielder out of contract at the end of the season.
Benitez is likely to reinstate Lampard back to the starting lineup against Fulham in their English Premier League match Wednesday, but said, while he would love to see the 34-year-old break the record, he will put the team's interests first.
"I have to consider all the squad, the main thing is the team," Benitez said. "Obviously I would like to see Frank break the record, but if I pick him it's because he's a good player.
"I think he can score goals and hopefully he can score more than two and break the record. Then he will be happy, we will be happy and hopefully it means we can win more games."
Chelsea go into the game against their West London rivals two points behind third-placed Arsenal, but with two games in hand.
Benitez is spoiled for choice up front, with both Fernando Torres and Demba Ba showing good form. The Spaniard, though, suggested he would not play the two together as it would affect the balance of the team.
"We have strikers who are both doing well but at the same time we have a line of three players behind them who are quite offensive, score goals and have an impact on the game," Benitez added.
"If you change your shape you have to change these players and they can be very influential. Players like (Juan) Mata, who are very good playing in the middle, have to go into wide areas. Can you guarantee he will be better? I'm not sure.
"The other day we had to do it because we were losing, but we still had those influential players on the pitch, the majority of them through the middle.
"That's sometimes a problem, but when you have players like Mata and (Eden) Hazard getting assists and scoring goals, maybe you don't need another striker.
"It's an option but it depends on the other team and the team you have. Hazard, Oscar, Mata, these players can play in the middle and they can all score goals.
"Mata is scoring goals and getting assists, if you have someone who has 18 goals and 29 assists it's like another striker."
