Zola not surprised at big early impact from Lampard
Frank Lampard’s successful start to his managerial career has come as no surprise to Gianfranco Zola.
Lampard, Chelsea’s record goalscorer, takes his Derby side to Stamford Bridge for tonight’s Carabao Cup fourthround clash.
Zola was a team-mate of Lampard’s at Chelsea and is now the Blues’ assistant boss.
Lampard’s Derby are making a promotion push in the Championship and beat Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in a penalty shootout to set up the Chelsea tie.
Zola said: “You can understand when somebody has a future in this position because to succeed as a coach you really need to have the ability to think over things. It seemed to me that Frank has always had this ability.
“It’s not a surprise for me he’s doing well and he’s going to do well.”
Lampard joined Chelsea in 2001 for £11million from West Ham and scored a club-record 211 goals in 648 Chelsea appearances over 13 years. The first two of those Zola was a team-mate.
Lampard is expected to receive a rapturous reception from Chelsea supporters.
Zola is one of the few who has an inkling of what Lampard can expect, having returned to Chelsea as West Ham manager in December 2008, earning a 1-1 Premier League draw.
“I’m sure it will be a big night for him,” Zola added. “Very similar to me when I first came with West Ham many years ago.
“We’re very pleased to welcome him. He’s a legend of the club. He’s done so much for the club. We really wish him continuously well as a coach.”
Lampard is assisted by another former Chelsea player, Jody Morris, and the Blues have granted permission for Derby to field loan players Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori.
Mount’s form for Derby was acknowledged by a callup into the England squad.
Zola said: “He was one of the first players I analysed. And I said ‘this player is for us’.
“This was the plan, to keep him at least for pre-season with us. But then an opportunity to send him to play in England in such a competitive league like the Championship came and the club decided it was good for him.”