Cocu the right man for Rams
LAMPS CAN’T WAIT TO SETTLE INTO CHAIR NUNO’S NEW PROMOTION BULGARIA HIT BY FAN BAN
THE CORRIDOR down to the manager’s office at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground is not somewhere Frank Lampard used to venture too often.
With the intimidating figure of Jose Mourinho or Carlo Ancelotti 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 himself sitting there. A lot earlier than he expected, he admits, but it was a chair that he always had his sights on.
He has not sat in it a lot as five days after taking over Chelsea were in Ireland on 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 footballing team he wants.
The former England international said: “I have actually sat in it! I was at Cobham the first day 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 to the manager’s office is somewhere you didn’t venture much.
“I always felt I might be back in that chair one day. Of course it has come early, I’m under no illusions about that. I didn’t expect it after one year at Derby.”
Unable to sign players due to the NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO believes Wolves’ trip to China has given the club’s profile a huge boost.
Wolves’ Chinese owners, Fosun, have made a big marketing push around their team’s involvement in this week’s Premier League Asia Trophy. ■ from TONY BANKS in Tokyo (below)
club’s transfer ban, his task this season is stark and simple. Use the squad he has, plus his youngsters, get in the top four – and try to bridge the 26-point gap to Manchester City.
Lampard, who yesterday lost 1-0 in his third game in charge against J League champions Kawasaki Frontale in Yokohama, feels the year he spent at City after leaving Chelsea in 2014 was useful for him.
He added: “There is a correlation about what Chelsea did in 2003 to what City have done. Both changed the landscape. I saw two clubs that were hungry to be winners.
“City have done that and, the Pep Guardiola period, have seen a performance that rivals any era.
“At City I got what I felt at Chelsea – a club that had a new drive from the top. It allowed me to see another idea, the way they wanted to drive. The only way to close the gap to them is absolute hard work and focus on what we do.” The club have opened a megastore in Shanghai, launched a clothing range and promoted Wolves-themed beer.
On the field, Wolves beat Newcastle in Nanjing on Wednesday and will play in today’s final against Manchester City in in we level Shanghai. “Yes, it’s definitely (been a success),” said manager Nuno.
“We’re delighted to be here and the players are being very patient and co-operative.
“It’s difficult, with the weather and all these things, but we are really happy to be here.” DERBY think Phillip Cocu is the perfect fit to replace Frank Lampard as boss.
Lampard left to join Chelsea, dealing the Rams a double blow after they came within 90 minutes of the big time, losing in the Championship play-off final to Aston Villa.
But owner Mel Morris admitted that once he’d met former Barcelona and Holland star Cocu, he was instantly won over.
He said: “Once I had met him, 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, who won more than 100 caps for Holland, said he didn’t take any convincing that Derby was the perfect fit.
Cocu, who followed his glittering playing career by steering PSV to three titles, said: “Everything is here. The club has a huge amount of fans, a great stadium, world-class facilities and good players.
“I can imagine some of the fans are sad that Frank has gone.
“It was a great opportunity for him to take the Chelsea job.
“I’m not a person who tries to be anybody else. I like to be myself.
“I had a long talk with Mel and you just get a certain feeling.
“I think this is the right step and it feels like the right fit and that was important to me. I’m really looking forward to it.”