Magic Lamps doesn’t need to buy glory

FRANK LAMPARD has been a revelation as Chelsea manager this season.

With the club under a transfer ban, few gave Lamps and his kids much of a chance of getting into the top four and a place in next season’s Champions League.

But Lampard (above) has been a breath of fresh air, happy, joking and enjoying the ride.

Now the transfer ban lifted, there is suddenly a different feel around the Blues.

There has been pressure to make a big-name signing to boost the squad and that would come with greater expectation from owner Roman Abramovich in terms of what constitutes success at

Stamford Bridge.

Without doubt, Lampard has been feeling the strain during January and, like a lot of managers, will be very happy when this window shuts.

Make no mistake, being free to buy players has been a game changer for the former England star.

Yet Chelsea have not gone crazy so far in this window, as Lampard wants to keep expectations at a reasonable level while also ensuring his talented young stars are not pushed out of the first-team picture.

People would do well to remember the odds were stacked against him at the start of the season.

And, if Chelsea do finish fourth, then it should go down as one of the best pieces of management in Premier League history.

CHELSEA press steward Brian Pullman is one of the most beloved people in any press room up and down the country. He has been at the club for more than 40 years and is now in his eighties.

Brian asked Belgian journalist Kristof Terreur to send his regards to former Chelsea star Eden n

Hazard when he next saw him in Madrid.

Kristof duly obliged and Hazard (right), remembering the chats they would have at the club’s training ground, sent back a signed No.7

Real Madrid shirt for Brian who was suitably chuffed to receive it. Class.

WEST HAM were left red-faced after one of their official flagbearers took part in the pre-match pomp and ceremony – while wearing a “GSB (Gold-sullivan-brady) OUT” T-shirt. The Hammers fan (right) applied by e-mail, arrived wearing an Irons top and then got changed before keeping his coat zipped up during the briefing before the Liverpool game on Wednesday night. West Ham supporters have turned up the volume on protests against the club’s owners David Gold, David Sullivan and Karren Brady as they are stuck in a fight against relegation. Joint-chairman Gold deserves some credit during one particularly sycophantic radio interview for showing some humility towards the fans. After one ridiculous question, he admitted the club has fallen short of the lofty targets set when they moved to the London Stadium. ARSENE WENGER boasted that Arsenal would refuse to deal with “super agents” during his 22-year reign at the club. Two years later, there has been a seismic shift under technical director Edu (left) and head of football operations Raul Sanllehi. Super agent Kia Joorabchian, who works closely with Edu, is now well ensconced, while Andre Cury – Neymar’s agent – and Arturo Canales – who works closely with Sanllehi – form a regular trio when it comes to getting deals done with the Arsenal hierarchy. Canales represented Unai Emery when he joined Arsenal, was involved in the Bernd Leno deal and also represents new signing Pablo Mari. Times have definitely changed at Arsenal as to who they rely on to get deals done and who is in the inner circle.