Derby boss Lampard relishes ‘special’ 1st return to Chelsea
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Derby County boss Frank Lampard is relishing his first return to Chelsea as a manager in the English League Cup today after dumping Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United out in the previous round.
Lampard is considered to be one of Chelsea’s best-ever players after scoring a club-record 211 goals and winning 11 major trophies between 2001 and 2014, including the UEFA Champions League in 2012 and three English Premier League titles.
“It’s a special draw for me to be able to go back and see people behind the scenes and 40,000-plus friends in the stadium,” said the 40-year-old ahead of the fourth-round clash at Stamford Bridge.
“I’m more emotional as I have gotten older, I think. These things catch you. Because you realize, in my life, how important Chelsea was and what I owe for that in terms of thanks.”
Lampard is enjoying life at Derby, which is sixth in the second-tier Championship, just four points off top spot.
“This (Derby) is my working home now and I have a great affiliation with this club already. I’m working hard to try to do something good here, and I love it here,” the ex-midfielder said.
“But I can’t forget 13 years of my career. It was a very special time for me, I was lucky to be part of such a strong era at the club. So it’ll be a very special night for me to be back there and to feel that atmosphere once again.”
Derby heads into the duel having made it through the previous round with a shock triumph on penalties against United, managed by Mourinho, Lampard’s former boss at Chelsea.
On Monday, Riyad Mahrez paid tribute to the Leicester City owner killed in a helicopter crash after scoring Manchester City’s goal in a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the EPL.
The winger celebrated his sixth-minute strike at Wembley Stadium by pointing both of his arms skyward in memory of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died with four other people when his helicopter crashed outside Leicester’s stadium after a match on Saturday. Mahrez played for Leicester from 2014 until moving to City this summer, and was a star of its 2016 EPL-winning team bankrolled by Vichai.
“The boss was very special to me,” Mahrez said. “He was such a good person. I was very, very sad — that’s why when I scored, I put my hands up for him.
“It was heartbreaking and shocking to have this news, and of course with the other people who died with him. It’s a difficult situation.”
City returned to the top of the standings, on goal difference from Liverpool, after an eighth win in 10 games, and remained unbeaten in its title defense.
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