Frank Lampard insists talk of him getting the Chelsea job is "silly"

Matt Jones - Editor 23:27 20/02/2019
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  • He has this week been linked alongside ex-Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane as a possible replacement should Chelsea sack Maurizio Sarri – but Frank Lampard has quashed claims he could be named next manager at his former club.

    Sarri’s side were booed off and fans were heard chanting, criticising his ‘Sarri-ball’ style, as the Blues were dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

    Speculation swirls that Sarri’s position is in jeopardy and things hardly get easier with Manchester City lying in wait in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday following Thursday’s Europa League last 32 second-leg tie against Malmo, who they hold a precarious 2-1 lead over.

    Sky Sports News reported on Tuesday night that Zidane – who led Los Blancos to three straight Champions League successes from 2016-18 – as well as Chelsea icon Lampard have been identified as possible replacements for Sarri.

    But the Derby County boss, 40, dismissed speculation of taking over at Chelsea as “silly” when speaking exclusively to Sport360.

    “Everyone knows I had a big long career at Chelsea but to start putting myself into any job other than the job at hand would be silly, so we’ll see what happens this season,” Lampard said, speaking on Monday thanks to his partnership with nanoM – a state-of-the-art health assessment clinic located at the Golden Mile Galleria on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.

    “I certainly would never be out calling for the Chelsea job. I think in football, when you’re a manager, to go too far ahead of yourself is the first mistake.”

    Life for Sarri started so serenely in west London as the ex-Napoli tactician led the Blues to an 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions from the first day of the Premier League season to November 24 – when they were beaten 3-1 at Tottenham.

    Since then, 60-year-old Sarri has overseen a dramatic downturn in form. Chelsea have been humbled 6-0 by Premier League champions City at the Etihad – their heaviest defeat in 28 years – and were beaten 4-0 at Bournemouth in two of their last three league games.

    They have fallen out of the top four and are currently a point behind United.

    Sarri is under pressure at Stamford Bridge.

    Sarri is under pressure at Stamford Bridge.

    Lampard, who plundered 211 goals for Chelsea in 648 appearances – he is the club’s fourth highest appearance maker – has certainly made a splash during his maiden season in management at Pride Park. His Derby side are seventh in the Championship, one place and two points off the play-offs following 14 wins in 31 games.

    And Lampard insists leading a Rams raid on the Premier League would go down as one of his finest achievements in football.

    “I find in the amount of games we have here that I have to focus completely on this job in a city and club that’s welcomed me very much and given me an opportunity,” added Lampard, who spent 13 seasons at Stamford Bridge.

    “If I can be successful this year at Derby I think it will be one of my best achievements in football, genuinely. I think it will be a huge mistake to look too far ahead.”

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