Chelsea job a pipe dream for ‘pragmatic’ Lampard

Frank Lampard swerved questions of returning to manage Chelsea one day but still calls Stamford Bridge “home” and such is his respect for them, he wants to become the first coach not to celebrate a victory.

The 40-year-old returns to his beloved Bridge for the first time in the visiting dugout in the Carabao Cup tonight with new club Derby County. Discussed as a future Chelsea manager, Lampard believes the prospect should not be entertained until he has achieved the success to merit it. “No, because I am pragmatic about those things,” he said when asked if he dreams of managing the club one day. “In football your next game is all-important. I don’t see anything beyond playing Chelsea, and then I will concentrate on Birmingham at the weekend. So to dream is one thing, but in reality, what happens next will rely on what I do here. Hopefully I can bring success to this club.”

Lampard is still held in huge affection by the club’s supporters after playing such an influential role in them winning 13 trophies in as many years until he left in 2014, after 211 goals in 648 games.

As a result, should Derby follow up their shock victory at Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in the last round, he will refrain from celebrating – just as he did after scoring for Manchester City against Chelsea in September 2014. “It will be easy [to show restraint] because I respect the club,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chelsea coach Marco Ianni has been fined £6,000 by the Football Association after admitting to an improper conduct charge over the way he celebrated a late equaliser against Manchester United.