Rams fell instantly for Cocu

DERBY believe Phillip Cocu is the perfect fit to replace Frank Lampard.

Lampard was a big loss this summer but Rams owner Mel Morris admitted that once he had met former Barcelona and Holland star Cocu he was won over.

Morris said: “I turned to one of my colleagues and said, ‘If he turns us down we’re going to struggle with any subsequent interviews’.

“He wasn’t coming for the money. He shared our vision. He was perfect.

“When you have people like him and Frank, people don’t question their talent. The conversation was purely about football and his philosophy and it went from there.”

Cocu, 48, who followed his glittering playing career by steering PSV Eindhoven to three titles as a manager, said he did not need any convincing that Derby were the perfect fit.

He said: “Everything is here – the fans, a great stadium, world-class facilities and good players.

“I can imagine some are sad that Frank has gone. He did a fantastic job.

It was a great opportunity to take the Chelsea job.

“But I’m not a person who tries to be anybody else.”

With an intimidating figure like Jose Mourinho sitting at the other end, what was waiting for you might not always be good news. Dropped, maybe, or no new contract.

But now it is Lampard sitting in that chair behind the big desk, with all the paperwork.

A lot earlier than he expected, he admits, but it was a seat he always had his sights on. Mind you, he has not sat in it much yet.

Five days after taking over he took Chelsea to Ireland for the first leg of their summer tour and now here in Japan he is continuing the task of moulding his squad into the type of team he wants.

Blues legend Lampard said: “I was at Cobham the first day, before we went to Ireland, and the morning before we came here.

“It felt good. But I wouldn’t have gone there much as a player. Only if called in. That corridor towards the manager’s office is somewhere you didn’t venture much. But now it’s where I’ll be.

“I always felt I might be back in that chair one day. Maybe I was naive. Of course it has come early, I’m under no illusions about that. I didn’t expect it after one year at Derby.”

Lampard, relaxed as we chatted at the team hotel in Yokohama, has been careful to avoid claiming that any of his previous managers were more of an influence than the others.

“There was no ‘ding’ moment for me,” he said.

“Lots of managers influenced me – Jose for the self-confidence he gave me.

“When you become a manager you realise it is not that simple. You can’t love every manager and every player – but you have to work together.

“I try to learn myself. If I ever felt the need to reach out to them I would, but we FRANK LAMPARD insist Everton target Kurt Zouma is not for sale after suffering a first defeat as Chelsea manager, losing 1-0 to Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in steamy Yokohama.

“Kurt is a very good defender, a very good player – a professional – and I want him here,” said Lampard.