Frank Lampard press conference LIVE! Chelsea interim manager discusses Wolves, Real Madrid and more

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea press conference – LIVE!

Four days after Graham Potter was sacked as Chelsea manager, Frank Lampard faced the media for the first time since being confirmed as the club’s new interim boss. Lampard will take charge at Stamford Bridge until the end of the season, while discussions with the likes of Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann continue over a permanent appointment.

The club legend spent 18 months in charge before his departure in January 2021, when Thomas Tuchel then took over and led Chelsea to Champions League glory. Lampard will have the chance to do likewise, with the first leg of the quarter-final tie against Real Madrid to come next week.

That was discussed in his press conference this afternoon, as well as this weekend’s clash with Wolves as Lampard looks to help turn around what has been a miserable Premier League season for the Blues. Catch up with everything he had to say below!

Frank Lampard press conference

• Lampard holds first press conference

• Chelsea confirm interim appointment

• Naglesmann and Enrique frontrunners for permanent job

Thanks for following!

15:19 , Matt Verri

Frank Lampard says it was an “easy decision” to return to Chelsea as caretaker manager until the end of the season.

The 44-year-old, describing the Blues as “my club”, spoke of his pride at being offered the opportunity to return a little over two years since he was sacked.

Lampard, ahead of taking his first training session with the squad, said: “It was an easy decision for me because this is my club.

“I’m also a very practical person. I’ve been on a different path since I left Chelsea but, to come back, as I’ve been asked, and be back here with a belief that I can help until the end of the season is really great. I’m delighted to get the opportunity and I’m thankful.

Read Nizaar Kinsella’s full piece here

Havertz could be worried

14:42 , Matt Verri

Lampard struggled to get the best out of Kai Havertz during his time in west London. He tried him in a variety of positions including in the heart of his midfield and on the wing but to little reward.

Havertz was Potter’s most-used player during his short tenure and he currently tops the club’s goalscoring charts with nine goals.

Bad news for Kepa...

14:24 , Matt Verri

Kepa suffered a disastrous season under Lampard that threatened to derail his career.

He has since criticised his former manager while praising his successor, Thomas Tuchel. He said last year: “We came from a not so elaborate game [with Lampard], we didn’t have to take the ball from behind, a less planned game, more to the free expression of the player, back and forth and less control. With Tuchel we have returned to control.”

Having been no1 for Graham Potter, Kepa could soon become the back-up option behind Edouard Mendy, who was signed under Lampard and is now fit.

Winners from Lampard’s return

14:12 , Matt Verri

Mason Mount

Obviously. The 24-year-old made his Chelsea debut under Lampard and, towards the end of his tenure, became the youngest player to wear the captain’s armband since John Terry in 2021.

There’s a real friendship and bond between the two and, having been an unused substitute for the last two games under Graham Potter, expect him back in the starting XI.

Christian Pulisic

No manager got more out of Christian Pulisic.

The forward produced the form of his life when football returned during the pandemic, with seven goals in 11 games making him Chelsea’s most potent attacker in that period behind closed doors.

Everyone expects Pulisic to leave in the summer but Lampard, through his personal relationship and awareness of how to attack the box, could bring the American back in from the cold.

The record Lampard is looking to improve on...

14:06 , Matt Verri

What next?

14:03 , Matt Verri

First up for Lampard, a trip to Wolves this weekend in the Premier League. Chelsea sit 11th and badly need to find an upturn in form.

Then, the small matter of a trip to Spain to face Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie.

Talk about easing yourself in...

13:59 , Matt Verri

And that brings an end to the broadcast section of Lampard’s press conference. As you’d expect, very excited to be back at Chelsea and an opportunity he is incredibly grateful for.

Catch up on all he had to say below...

Lampard: This is my club

13:56 , Matt Verri

“This is my club. I’m proud to manage this club and I look forward to the opportunity. I’m ready to put my work into this challenge, I have a clear idea of what I want to do in this period.”

On Chelsea getting back into Europe

13:55 , Matt Verri

“It’s really important but we’re in this situation now where we’d all love to get there but the reality is we have to win games to give ourselves a fighting chance.

“I don’t want to go there at this point. Whatever challenges are there this season, I’m here to see what is the maximum impact I can have.”

Learning from playing days

13:54 , Matt Verri

“I’ve got real and fond memories of the success I had under Roberto [Di Matteo]. I saw how he affected the group and the personal relationships he had. In Gus’ [Hiddink] own way, he had a great personal touch and football brain.

“I’d be stupid to not rely on some things I felt were good.”

Expect to ever be back?

13:53 , Matt Verri

“I didn’t think I’d never be in this seat [again]. I’m a confident guy.

“My job is to be as good a manager as I can be. It wasn’t in the first part of my mind. Unfinished business? I don’t quite see it like that.

“Unfinished business sounds a bit Hollywood. I want to work.”

Surprised at struggles this season?

13:51 , Matt Verri

“I don’t think football can surprise you. It’s such a competitive league. Not my position to comment on how and why the club is where it is now... my position to move us into a more positive place.

“There’s been change, transition in the squad. A lot of talent in the squad. Those things take a bit of time, everyone will try and work in the right direction.

“If I can play my part in that, then great.”

On size of the task

13:50 , Matt Verri

“When I spoke to Paul and Lawrence in the last 48 hours... it was for me a decision that was not simple, Chelsea Football Club can’t be simple, but it was a decision I came too.

“It’s a big challenge, but aren’t they all? Everything is a challenge, I have complete sympathies for all managers that move on and congratulatons to all that stay in their jobs.”

On being back at Stamford Bridge

13:48 , Matt Verri

“Really exciting. I was there on Tuesday night and it was the first time I had been back since I left.

“It was an amazing buzz to be back at Stamford Bridge. I’ll be very proud, I’m very proud to manage this club.”

Message to the fans

13:48 , Matt Verri

“I’m very thankful for the ones that are delighted. If there are some that aren’t, they can know I’ll work my utmost to give them a team they’re proud of.

“I don’t think I need to speak too much about my relationship with the Chelsea fans. From the moment I joined this club many years ago, they’ve been a huge support to me. I’m forever thankful for that.”

On targets for the rest of the season

13:46 , Matt Verri

“To install the highest level of confidence I can with the group. In terms of targets, we want to win as many games as we can. It’s the simplest answer you’re going to get.

“Every game is hard, but we have to have a belief in the players in this squad. We want to win games.”

On Mason Mount

13:44 , Matt Verri

“Mason has always been a fantastic player for me. It’s an absolute pleasure to watch him, and other players like Reece James, Tammy Abraham and Tomori to go on and be huge players here or elsewhere.

“I know what I get from Mason. I just want to see him perform on the pitch. We have a good relationship, I look forward to speaking to him more.”

On replicating Di Matteo

13:43 , Matt Verri

“Roberto did an incredible job to stay on but that’s a different time in the club’s history.

“I expect those questions but what is important to me is to park it to one side and get on the job.”

13:42 , Matt Verri

“I was at the game on Tuesday night, I know there’s a lot of talent in this squad. I’m excited to work with that talent and help them.

“Modern day football has big squads, I understand Chelsea are at the top end of that. Part of the job is to manage that situation and make every player feel included.”

Here he is!

13:40 , Matt Verri

“It was a pretty easy decision for me. This is my club.

“The role and the explanation of my role speaks for itself, and the period I’m here. I’m not getting anywhere ahead of myself.”

Race to become permanent boss

13:37 , Matt Verri

Julian Nagelsmann and Luis Enrique are the frontrunners to become Chelsea’s next permanent manager. Standard Sport understands Chelsea have made contact with both.

Enrique would be ready to join Chelsea straightaway and is set to be interviewed over the coming days. The ex-Barcelona coach speaks English and wants to move to a top Premier League club. Nagelsmann is open to talks but would reportedly prefer to wait until the summer before deciding his future.

Mauricio Pochettino is another of interest, as he was before Thomas Tuchel’s appointment, and is braced for contact. Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner is further down the shortlist. Sporting’s Ruben Amorim and Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi are set to stay put, however, after publicly denying interest in the job.

Read more on that here

Havertz ‘sad’ about Potter exit

13:33 , Matt Verri

Kai Havertz has admitted that some players in Chelsea’s bloated 32-man squad were not unhappy to see Graham Potter sacked.

The 23-year-old, who is the club’s top scorer after playing the most minutes this season, was “sad” to lose his manager but admits others didn’t share his view.

It is understood that some players hoped Potter would be sacked to improve their chances of playing, while others simply saw it as the right time to try a new coach.

Havertz said: “Of course, there were mixed emotions for everyone. It is not that, I don’t know how many players that we have in the squad… that everyone is [either] frustrated or happy.

“There are mixed emotions from everyone. For me, it was of course sad news. We saw it in the media.

“Everyone took it by themselves through the media. That’s it. I liked Graham and I liked what he did, that’s it.”

Lampard to turn things around?

13:29 , Matt Verri

Chelsea hope Lampard will bring a new direction to their ailing squad following the sacking of Graham Potter, writes Nizaar Kinsella.

Talks have moved at a rapid pace and Lampard could be in the dugout this weekend away at Wolves or, at the latest, away at Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final.

Lampard was out of work following his sacking at Everton earlier this year, in which he guided them to joint-bottom in the Premier League and lasted less than a year in the role.

He was at Stamford Bridge for the draw with Liverpool on Tuesday night along with three of the main decision-makers tasked with finding Chelsea’s next manager; co-owner Behdad Eghbali and co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.

Statement from co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali

13:26 , Matt Verri

“We are delighted to welcome Frank back to Stamford Bridge. Frank is a Premier League Hall of Famer and a legend at this club.

“As we continue our thorough and exhaustive process for a permanent head coach, we want to provide the club and our fans with a clear and stable plan for the remainder of the season.

“We want to give ourselves every chance of success and Frank has all of the characteristics and qualities we need to drive us to the finish line.

“We have an important game against Wolves on Saturday and then we will turn our attention to our Champions League quarter-final in Madrid next week. We are all going to give Frank our full backing as we aim to get the best possible outcome from all our remaining games.”

Good afternoon!

13:23 , Matt Verri

He’s back!

Frank Lampard has returned to Chelsea and will take interim charge of the club until the end of the season, after Graham Potter’s sacking four days ago.

Few expected Lampard to be the replacement, but he will return to the Stamford Bridge dugout as the club continue to search for a permanent appointment in the background.

The Blues legend is facing the media very shortly for the first time since his return - full coverage of all he has to say coming up. Stay with us.