If Chelsea twist again they should look to home hero Frank

THe first point to make is important: this is not a column that is advocating the sacking of maurizio sarri.

I’ve been in football long enough to know how managers react in times of great pressure and the last thing I would ever want to do is show someone a lack of respect. sarri has had a good career. He earned the opportunity to work at Chelsea and could even lift a trophy for them tomorrow.

This has been a difficult season and being hit with a transfer ban yesterday has only added to their problems. I wouldn’t completely rule them out of winning the Carabao Cup but if manchester City turn up in top form, it is going to be incredibly difficult.

another loss would leave sarri back in the spotlight and it is not difficult to read the signals that are coming from stamford bridge. Chelsea managers are in trouble the moment Champions League qualification is in danger and the noise surrounding him is not without foundation. He is in trouble.

so what happens next? If they are going to make a change, the only man I could see altering the atmosphere around the place is Frank Lampard (above). sometimes, appointing the polar opposite of your previous manager works and why couldn’t that be the case with Frank?

I understand the risks that come with being Chelsea manager — it’s not a position that offers long-term security — and I also appreciate why plenty of people would see it as a gamble for both sides: Frank lacks experience on the touchline, Chelsea want someone who will win immediately.

you only have to look at what happens, though, when you have a manager who is genuinely in tune with the club’s history and traditions. Who thought manchester united had made an error turning to Ole Gunnar solskjaer before his first game? Now he looks like he’s been in the role his whole life.

Football is all about timing and opportunity. some say Lampard should wait before returning to the club where he is the record goalscorer — but what makes them think the opportunity will always be there? Things change quickly in this industry and chances don’t always come a second time. People can talk about him serving his apprenticeship but sometimes you have to be ready to make the jump. I know how ambitious Frank is. He is doing an excellent job at Derby but the dream will be to go back to west London. I always got on well with him when we played together for england. Frank is a good lad and was always a good laugh around camp. but I saw first-hand how focused he is now he has started the second phase of his career.

stoke played Derby at the bet365 stadium last November and he just came into the stadium to do his job.

There was no time for small talk or handshakes. Nothing else other than the game mattered. He is, I am sure, going to have a long managerial career.

One day I expect it to happen for him at Chelsea, in the same way I can see steven Gerrard managing Liverpool.

If sarri is moved on and Chelsea want to restore harmony, they know where to look.