BBC 5 Live’s Darren Fletcher reveals Frank Lampard was due to travel to Real Madrid to ‘COMMENT’ Chelsea’s Champions League clash, but will now travel ‘in a completely different capacity’ after being appointed interim manager
- Frank Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge as interim manager on Thursday
- The Blues will face Real Madrid in the quarterfinals of the Champions League
- Chelsea could target Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti in the summer
BBC 5 Live’s Darren Fletcher revealed that Frank Lampard was already scheduled to co-commentate Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid next week.
The Blues legend was appointed on Thursday as the club’s new interim manager, who should guide the club safely until the end of the season.
As a result, he now travels to the Spanish capital under slightly different circumstances, with all eyes on what will be only his second game at his former club since his return.
However, one of the immediate tasks facing the ex-Everton boss is negotiating a diabolical Champions League tie with the reigning champions, under former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.
And as part of 5 Live’s Friday Football Social, Fletcher read out a conversation he had with the ex-England midfielder.
Frank Lampard returned to Chelsea on Thursday as their new interim manager following the departure of Graham Potter
One of the tasks immediately ahead of him is negotiating a Champions League match with Real Madrid
Frank Lampard was supposed to be with us in Madrid to comment with me on the game between Real Madrid and Chelsea.
“He sent me a message saying, ‘I should be there working with you, and now I’m on the phone!’
“It’s utter madness that he would be there anyway — now he’ll be there in a very important capacity, let alone look at it and analyze it!”
“You can imagine what his head looked like at the time when you were supposed to be working in television, but now you’re not just going to be there, you’re going to choose the team, work out the tactics, try to motivate everyone – and at the same time try to beat the European champions.’
Lampard’s second stint in the dugout for his former club begins on Saturday, when the Blues take on Wolves in Molineux at 3pm.
Chelsea’s record goalscorer has inherited a side stuck in the second half of the table in 11th place following the departure of Graham Potter last week.
The ex-Brighton boss struggled to bring consistency to a Chelsea side that saw a massive influx of players in both the summer and winter transfer windows, with the club spending more than £300million on the latter alone.
Lampard returns to Stamford Bridge after a difficult spell at Everton, leaving earlier in the season as the club battles for relegation for a second successive season.
And as the hunt for a permanent successor to Potter continues, Lampard insisted it was clear he would take charge shortly.
The former England midfielder insisted it was ‘obvious’ his return was short-lived
His first game back as club leader is against Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves on Saturday
“It’s clear what the role is in terms of the title of the role,” he said. ‘I absolutely understand that. I want to do my best during this period to show that I can coach and manage very well, then we’ll see what happens. I don’t need answers on that point.
“The feeling I have from the club is that they want to do a process to find the right person to move on, whoever that may be. That is absolutely their prerogative. Maybe that’s why I’m here at this time. It’s not for me to decide what the club’s process is and how they go about it.
“This is a club I belong to. I just want to do well right now. After that, it could mean saying “thank you so much” and looking to the future.
“At that point I will be very happy and say ‘thank you, I think I gave everything’. I can’t get ahead of my station at all. I’m just here to try to influence this period.’