Sleepless in Derby! FRANK STARTS WITH A WIN BUT HE NEEDS SOME KIP
FRANK LAMPARD admitted he had “sleepless nights” before he began life as a manager yesterday.
The former Chelsea and England midfielder got his reign at Derby of to a flier at Notts County with a 4-1 friendly win.
But Lampard joked: “I don’t know whether I was that chilled, I might have looked it.
“I wasn’t kicking every ball, but I was seeing things from the outside. This is still pretty new for me, let’s make no bones about it, but I’ll improve.
“But I loved it, I really enjoyed it. I definitely can’t complain.
“Thankfully there wasn’t much I had to shout and scream about, so it made it easier – I slept all right before the game, but since taking the job there’s been a few sleepless nights.
“Sometimes you do wake up in the middle of the night and you’re picking your team and your formation, but by the morning it’s changed.
“That’s the life of a manager, but that’s what we’re in it for.”
Winger Luke Thomas bagged a brace with Mason Bennett and Tom Huddlestone on target for the Rams, while Kane Hemmings scored from the penalty spot for the Magpies.
Regardless of the result though, all eyes were on Lampard, making his debut in the dugout for the first time having penned a three-year deal with the Championship club a little over a month ago.
And having seen his former England team-mate and good friend Steven Gerrard get off to a winning start in his first game in charge of Rangers this week, Lampard was understandably hungry to follow suit.
Lampard (above) has become used to rapturous receptions during an illustrious career, but this is a new voyage.
And the former West Ham, Manchester City and New York