Frank Lampard promised he can be again at Chelsea as a supporter after his tenure as interim supervisor ends on Sunday.
His aspect host Newcastle trying to give Lampard the primary residence win of his second spell in cost, and assist the membership’s document goalscorer log out on a relative excessive after dropping eight of his 10 video games.
The former midfielder, who gained three Premier League titles and the Champions League throughout his 13 years as a participant in west London, didn’t return to Stamford Bridge after he was sacked as supervisor in January 2021 till April of this yr to witness the staff’s goalless draw towards Liverpool.
That got here two days after ex-boss Graham Potter was sacked 31 video games right into a five-year contract, and inside days Lampard had been put in as non permanent boss whereas the membership looked for a everlasting successor.
The 44-year-old insisted that it was solely circumstances that had stored him away – the interval coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic and his 12 months spent managing Everton – and that his go to for the Liverpool sport, which he watched from the field of co-owner Todd Boehly, had been deliberate for weeks.
It was later reported that Lampard had been touted as a attainable interim candidate by membership officers a number of weeks earlier when Potter was critically on the ropes after a run of poor outcomes.
The sport towards Newcastle will spherical off a marketing campaign that can’t come quickly sufficient for followers after enduring comfortably the staff’s worst season in 30 years.
Nevertheless, Lampard was hopeful of giving them one thing constructive to take into the summer time as he ready to make his third exit from the membership.
“I don’t want this to sound corny but I don’t feel like it is a goodbye,” mentioned Lampard.
“I appreciate it, it will be end of season and end of my time back but normally when you leave a club you don’t have a hurrah as a manager. You are in one day out the next and that’s fine.
“This is the corny part, I will never feel like I am saying goodbye to the fans. My career as a player and as a coach first time around and this period and it is there.
“I live close enough to the stadium and I will be back at Chelsea many times and when you take on a managerial career it doesn’t mean you will be at a club you had 13 years at as a player forever.
“I’m quite calm about it and not too nostalgic about it but certainly do appreciate the fans’ support on Sunday. More than anything I would love to give them a performance to take away for the summer and feel a bit more positive about for sure.”
Lampard might once more flip to Chelsea’s younger prospects towards Newcastle with quite a few first-team gamers unavailable.
Reece James, N’Golo Kante and Benoit Badiashile have all performed their closing sport of the marketing campaign whereas Lampard was uncertain whether or not Mason Mount can be match to make what may very well be a farewell look at Stamford Bridge.
Raheem Sterling can be a doubt after injuring a hamstring within the defeat to Manchester City.
The lack of James has been a selected blow for Lampard throughout his temporary keep, with the England defender having been the standout performer this season because the staff has struggled.
He was dominated out of the remainder of the marketing campaign after injuring a thigh within the Champions League residence defeat to Real Madrid.
“(Reece) came out (to train on Wednesday) and went back in but because he had a little bit of an awareness but we hope the scan will show there is no real damage,” mentioned Lampard. “It was just a little reminder that it is a bit too early to be out.”
