Frank Lampard plans to install his own ideas at Chelsea after being appointed Chelsea interim head coach until the end of the season
Frank Lampard is pleased to be back at Cobham training ground after being appointed Chelsea caretaker manager. The Blues were heavily linked with numerous candidates to replace Graham Potter at Stamford Bridge but, with Todd Boehly eager to replace Bruno Saltor, the 44-year-old has been drafted in until the end of the season.
In the meantime, the west London outfit are continuing their search for a permanent successor with Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann said to be the frontrunners. Despite only being brought in on a temporary basis, Lampard is planning to install his own ideas – and he’s looking forward to working hard.
During his first tenure, the former England international re-established the club’s identity and integrated the likes of Mason Mount and Reece James into the first-team. As the Chelsea legend reclined in his chair before the press conference kicked off, he said: “It’s nice to be back.”
When asked to expand, Lampard said: “Easy decision for me, this is my club. I’m also a very practical person. I’ve been on a different path since I left Chelsea but to come back when I’ve been asked and come back with a belief I can help until the end of the season.
“Delighted to get the opportunity and I’m thankful. I’ve a good understanding of the squad, the training ground, the stadium and the fans and I’ll do my best.”
Lampard continued by insisting that everyone in the squad will start with a clean slate. He added: “Everyone can have a clean slate and show in training and the competitive nature can push into matches.
“In terms of goalscoring, there’s no genius coach that can explain that to a point, you can set up a team. All I will be here is to work with repetition and speak to the players. Fortunately it was a big part of my game. It’s just a case of trying to direct them in the right way.”
The all-time Chelsea top goal scorer then explained what the club’s target is for the season. The Blues sunk into the bottom half of the Premier League table following defeat to Aston Villa last weekend and top-four seems out of sight.
However, the west London outfit still have a shot at the Champions League – but Real Madrid stand in their way. Lampard said: “To install the highest confidence and we want to win as many games as we can.
“There are big games ahead of us but we have to have a belief in the players and I’ll tell them that today. It’s certainly a chance with the two games we have coming up.
“Real Madrid is a huge football club, fantastic team. I’m not going to go crazy, the final is far away and I want to go step by step. First year we got knocked out off Bayern Munich and the second year the club went on to win. Of course I’m excited to fight in that competition again.”