Frank Lampard admits he was ‘surprised’ when he got a call from Chelsea
Frank Lampard has admitted he was ‘surprised’ to receive another call from Chelsea, but said it was an ‘easy decision’ to accept the interim manager position until the end of the season.
The Stamford Bridge legend is back in the dugout following the sacking of Graham Potter last weekend and will aim to improve on their current Premier League position of 11th and progress to the Champions League.
The 44-year-old Lampard insisted he does not see it as ‘unfinished business’ after his previous tenure as Chelsea manager ended with a January 2021 sacking.
Speaking to the media shortly after Chelsea officially confirmed his return, Lampard said: “[It was] a surprise in terms of you never know what decision the club is going to make.
“I especially enjoyed my time at home. When you have time at home, you can throw yourself into your family.
Frank Lampard addressed the media after being appointed Chelsea interim manager
Lampard watched Chelsea’s goalless draw against Liverpool on Tuesday before being appointed
Lampard was photographed leaving home with him as he was due to be at Chelsea’s base in Cobham this morning, taking training as he completes a sensational return to the club.
Graham Potter was sacked by Chelsea on Sunday night with the club eleventh in the table
“But it was an easy decision for me, this is my club. I am also a very practical person.
“Since I left Chelsea I’ve been on a different path, but I’ll come back when I’m called upon and I’ll come back with the belief that I can help until the end of the season.
“I am very happy to have the opportunity and I am grateful. I have a good understanding of the squad, the training ground, the stadium and the fans and I will do my best.’
Asked if he ever saw himself in Chelsea’s hotseat again, the club’s all-time top goalscorer added: “I didn’t think I’d ever be in this seat. I understand the club and the game.
“To be honest, it was not my idea to come back as Chelsea manager. It was my job to be the best manager I can be.
“I don’t see it as unfinished business. Now I’m in a different period here and I just want to do the best I can. Unfinished business just seems a bit Hollywood.’
Lampard, who has been out of action since his dismissal from Everton in January, will begin preparations for Chelsea’s visit to Wolves on Saturday as they aim to rise from 11th in the Premier League.
Next Wednesday, they will face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Lampard is a club legend who helped Chelsea win their first Champions League in 2012
Lampard returned to manage the club for 18 months between summer 2019 and early 2021
The challenge of managing Chelsea’s big team proved difficult for Potter, but Lampard was not fazed.
He said: ‘The top clubs have big squads. You have to make every player feel like they belong.
‘It is positive that we are here in the short term, because everyone can start with a clean slate. The players are going to push each other and I’m going to try to arrange that.’
Asked about his goals for between now and the end of his tenure, Lampard said: “To inspire the utmost confidence and we want to win as many games as possible.
“We have big games ahead of us, but we have to believe in our players and I will tell them that today.”
Lampard had no chance to lead Chelsea into the 2020/21 Champions League knockout rounds, but his replacement Thomas Tuchel took the team all the way to victory.
When asked if he enjoyed a shot now, he said: “It’s definitely an opportunity with the two games we’ve got on it. Real Madrid is a huge football club, a fantastic team.
“I’m not going to be crazy, the final is still far away and I want to go step by step.
“In my first year we were eliminated by Bayern Munich and in the second year the club won. Of course I’m excited to fight in that league again.”
He also said he is looking forward to working with Mason Mount again – having overseen his rise to the first team – but declined to comment on his struggles this season at Stamford Bridge.
He denied suggestions that there were “unfinished business” for him following his 2021 resignation
“I don’t know enough about it to talk about it and I think it would be wrong to delve into it. Mason has always been good to me, Reece James, Tammy Abraham and Tomori. It was great to see them achieve great things.
“I need to find out where he is but I know what I’m getting from Mason and I just want him to perform on the pitch and I look forward to talking to him more.”
Speaking of his relationship with the Chelsea fans, he added: “I am very grateful to those who are happy. Those who aren’t can know that I will do my very best to give them a team they are proud of.
“I don’t need to say too much about my relationship with Chelsea fans. They’ve been a huge support to me and I’m eternally grateful for that.’