Lampard eyes Blues victory at Old Trafford
Frank Lampard hopes to emulate Jose Mourinho’s successful start as Chelsea manager by securing a positive result against Manchester United.
Lampard takes charge of the Blues in a competitive match for the first time at Old Trafford today.
Mourinho lifted the Premier League trophy three times across two spells at Stamford Bridge after beginning his initial tenure with a 1-0 home success against United 15 years ago following a goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen.
Former midfielder Lampard, the west London club’s record scorer with 211 goals, played in that fixture in August, 2004, and is keen for his squad to gain similar early-season momentum.
“I remember the game, we didn’t play particularly well, it wasn’t a great game. We won 1-0 and it was a nice start for us because we’d had a good pre-season and all of our standards were lifted by Jose Mourinho,” said Lampard.
“It would be great to have that momentum after a first game – it’s the same because it’s the same teams we are talking about but it’s not the end of the story.
“We’re going to a tough place in Old Trafford. The thing with football, and especially the top of the Premier League, is you can lose at those places. But we have to have a bigger picture than that.
“But, yes, of course, if we can get the early momentum by going there and getting a result, it certainly helped in the Jose Mourinho days and it will help us.”
Lampard received supportive messages from Mourinho after leaving Derby to take the Chelsea job last month but has not spoken with his former boss.
The 56-year-old Portuguese has been out of management since being sacked by United in December. Lampard played under numerous other successful coaches, including Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez, but would not reveal which one was the most influential while stressing his desire to be his own man.
“I have too many experiences with managers that to name one would feel almost disrespectful to the others,” he said.
“What I would say is I can take tips or ideas from all of my managers. I try and be myself through that, I don’t try and be a Jose Mourinho or a Carlo Ancelotti or a Guus Hiddink.
“I try and be myself but with influences from them because some managers are more people managers, some managers are more tactical managers. I think if you strive to try and find that, it’s not natural.
“I was fortunate enough to play under a lot and get tips but I’m not going to give you one name.”
Marcus Rashford has welcomed the extra responsibilty at Manchester United by admitting he has become one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s leaders. Rashford has packed a lot in since his first-team debut at Old Trafford in 2016, making 170 United appearances and playing in two international tournaments for England.
But the 21-year-old faces his biggest season yet after the £73.75million sale of Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan on Thursday confirmed his place as United’s No.1 striker.
“For me it’s just about becoming the guy that’s responsible and reliable,” Rashford said ahead of United’s opener.
“I feel like that’s the next step for me. Everything goes in order of the way it should be done.
“I remember these similar steps when I first went into the Under-18s and it takes you a season to grow into that standard of football.
“Before you know it, you’re one of the leaders there and you take responsibility on the pitch. Now I’m in that situation for the first team.”
Rashford signed a new four-year contract in July to keep him at United until 2023. The deal extended an association between player and club which stretches back to when Wythenshawe-born Rashford was seven years of age.
“I think it’s a very exciting moment,” Rashford went on. “It was just about getting the new contract out of the way and solidifying that I’m here for the club.
“It’s about getting the club back to where it belongs, what everybody knows Manchester United are.
“I give my life for the club and that’s the most important thing. For me, when you’re in a squad with a lot of young players who share the same ambition and have the same drive, I can only see us succeeding.
“It might take us some time, but if we all stick to the game plan, work collectively as a team, and we’ve got a good manager who knows the club and who shares the same ambition, who knows what we can achieve?
“It’s not just me. There’s a group of young players together and we can start to become what we decide to become.”