LEADER LEGEND
Lamps sure JT will be top boss as the icons go toe-to-toe
FRANK LAMPARD is tipping John Terry to become a top boss but plans to dent his pal’s hopes today.
Derby manager Lampard is preparing to welcome his old Chelsea team-mate Terry to Pride Park.
The pair, who won the 2012 FA Cup together (below) among plenty of other trophies, will be in opposing dugouts after Terry returned to Aston Villa to assist new boss Dean Smith.
Terry is learning the ropes off ex-Walsall and Brentford boss Smith with a view to becoming his own man one day.
Lampard said: “It’s the start of John’s next career and I’m sure it will be a success. He’s got all the attributes to be a top coach and, one day, a top manager. I think he will bring a lot to Villa,
“They have lots of threats individually and collectively, so we need to appreciate what is in front of us.
“Villa will want to play good, attacking football and once Dean gets his ideas across, I think they will be challenging.
“But if we prepare right, I think we can win a lot of games – as we have shown.”
Villa’s defence is already being drilled by Terry on a diet of the world’s top defenders.
Smith said: “We took them in for 10 minutes this morning alongside JT.
“We watched some clips of Derby and how they defend, as well as how well other teams do so – like Napoli, Juventus and Chelsea. Top teams.
“The players want to improve and it’s good to show them the best players in the world at times.”
Smith is also keen for Villa to learn from Barcelona how to win the ball back.
He said: “The one thing I want our players to do when they lose the ball is win it back quickly. It’s not rocket science.”