Johnson savours first taste of Europe

Glen Johnson reflected on his first Champions League Group experience and concluded: "I enjoyed every minute of it."

The England Under 21 full-back was one of Chelsea coach Claudio Ranieri's changes for the Group G clash against Sparta Prague and the former West Ham defender said: "I wasn't sure if I was going to be in or not.

"I tried to second guess the team on the night before the game and couldn't do it."

Johnson, who had played just 14 Premiership matches before Chelsea paid £6 million for him during the summer, said: "This is a new experience for me.

"You are playing up against a different kind of opponent. In the Premiership there are more tackles and it's more of a battle but against Sparta Prague you had to be sensible because, if you tackled hard, they would sometimes roll around the pitch.

"I thought we deserved our win but Sparta were a decent side." Ranieri himself was happy with his team's performance. "We deserved to win but I realise I had to change the system at half-time," he said.

"They closed the space and I thought that, with two wingers, we could open the doors. That's why I put Duff and Geremi in the wide positions.

"The strikers, whoever they are, cannot score from all the chances. What is more important is that we create the chances and we did that."

Claude Makelele and Hernan Crespo made their first starts but while the Argentine striker missed several good chances and was eventually substituted by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Makelele made an impressive debut.

"Too many people who should know have said what an important player Claude is," said Lampard, "and he certainly showed glimpses of that.

"He sweeps up in front of the back four, wins tackles and is clever on the ball without trying anything too drastic.

"He will be good for someone like me because, when I go forward, he will be the insurance."