Hiddink arrived in January after the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari and turned the Blues' season around after a mediocre start to the Barclays Premier League.

However, Chelsea were never really in the title race as Manchester United pipped Liverpool with one game to go, and they were knocked out of the Champions League in the semi-finals by a last-gasp goal from Barcelona.

Next Saturday's FA Cup final against Everton is the last chance to avoid a second consecutive trophy-less season and Lampard knows the stakes are high.

"A season without silverware is seen as a failure and that's pretty well right, if you look at the quality of the squad here," he said.

"We'd love to leave him (Hiddink) with a trophy as a thank you.

"We all feel the same about that. We've been a very tight-knit group since he came in. The man has been a pleasure, not just as a manager but as a person."

Carlo Ancelotti had been tipped to take over in the summer when Hiddink returns to coaching Russia full-time but yesterday the Italian committed to staying at AC Milan.

Lampard admits he is in the dark as much as anyone else, but warned that regardless of who is appointed, the players must mount a stronger challenge for the league title next term.

"I expect it [Ancelotti's appointment] as much as you," he added. "There will be continuity here whatever happens, I hope.

"It's important that players get the hump United won the league and that we're not in the Champions League final, and make sure we put it right.

"Whatever decision the owner makes, let's hope it works. If it doesn't, the club are within their rights to make it work.

"If you took away the pressure tomorrow, I wouldn't know what to do with myself."