Frank Lampard was named the Blues’ manager for a second time on Thursday, following the ousting of Graham Potter who had replaced Thomas Tuchel earlier this season. The legendary ex-midfielder will hold the position till the end of the current campaign. A few months after being fired by Everton, Frank Lampard was thrilled to be back in the game as he took charge of his first press conference since the appointment.
While the former club captain will oversee the Blues’ final nine Premier League games as well as the quarterfinal showdown with Real Madrid on his interim contract, Frank Lampard has suggested he might actually be given the position permanently in the summer. As Chelsea’s American owner Todd Boehly will conduct a “exhaustive” hiring procedure in the meantime, his latest hiring has added his name to potential candidates to take the job in the summer.
Frank Lampard makes his case clear for the permanent job
Frank Lampard was appointed by Blues chairman Todd Boehly to simply steady the ship for the duration of the season before deciding what course he wants the team to take moving forward. Although the 44-year-old is aware that his contract is only temporary, he has made a suggestion that if things go better than expected from this point forward until the end of the season, he might return to the position permanently. He said:
“I think the role and the explanation speaks for itself in the period I am here for. I’m not getting anywhere ahead of myself. I want to do the best possible role and impact the club in the best way. After that, we will see what happens. I don’t need answers to that point. I have taken that under the conditions.
“My only focus can be this. The feeling I have from the club, rightly so, is that they want to do a process to find the right person to take the club forward whoever that might be. That is absolutely their prerogative. Maybe that is why I am here. Of course, it was a surprise, you never know the decision a club is going to make.
“But it is not for me to decide the club’s process and how they go about it. Now it is up to me to do well. After that, of course, it may mean I end up saying thank you very much, and at that point I will be very happy and say I have given everything and hopefully it is positive.”
When asked if he ever saw himself back in the Chelsea hot seat, Lampard added:
“I didn’t think I’d never be in this seat. I understand the club and the game. To be honest, it wasn’t my thought to come back as a Chelsea manager. My job was just to be the best manager I can be. I don’t see it as unfinished business. Now I’m here in a different period and just want to do as well as I can. Unfinished business just seems a little bit Hollywood.”
Frank Lampard managed Chelsea for 19 months, from June 2019 to January 2021, after a 13-year playing career there that featured three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the Champions League. Thomas Tuchel succeeded him, and his first match in charge ended in a 0-0 draw with Wolves. With Chelsea currently in 11th place and 14 points outside the top four, Lampard will be back on the sidelines against Wolves on Saturday.