Roman’s the top

Frank Lampard was a major part of Abramovich’s early Chelsea success when he was a player and is determined to bring back the glory days as manager.

And football’s hand of fate has played a part because Jose Mourinho – who began the club’s new era of glory during two trophy- laden spells in charge – will be at the landmark occasion as Tottenham boss.

Russian billionaire Abramovich helped transform Chelsea but also English football when he arrived in July 2003 but Lampard insists they were not able to simply buy success.

“I’m very thankful for him doing what he’s done for the club because it changed my career as a player,” said Lampard. “Now I’m fortunate enough to be working at this fantastic club as a manager. work that wins it.” Chelsea have won five Premier League titles during the Abramovich era, three League Cups, five FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League twice.

Arguably, Abramovich’s intervention was a game changer for the Premier League.

Arsenal fell away as serious challengers because they could not compete financially, Manchester United had to step up, Manchester City were taken over themselves and Jurgen Klopp transformed Liverpool.

Abramovich’s visa problems mean he barely gets to see his team in the flesh, despite investing hundreds of millions, turning the club’s hotel over to NHS staff in the pandemic and being one of the key figures in English football in the last 20 years.

Lampard’s ambition is to get Chelsea back to those glory days and they go into the weekend third against a Spurs side who are top of the table – though Liverpool could overtake them today.

Abramovich backed the club in the market again last summer, bringing in Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech.

Lampard said: “I still feel we are in a real process. I cannot be happy until we get to what I feel is the end of that, although there probably never is an end to that as we always want more.”

FRANK’S A LOT: Lampard and Abramovich enjoy more Premier League title success

HE’S BACK: Welcoming Jose Mourinho for his second spell as boss in 2013