25 April 2023 , 13:02
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Frank Lampard refused to be drawn into speculation of Mauricio Pochettino replacing him as Chelsea boss insisting the club’s season “is not over”.
Pochettino is the overwhelming favourite to be appointed as permanent Blues boss this summer after former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann pulled out of the race on Friday. The Argentine has been out of football management since his sacking at the end of last season by Paris Saint-Germain.
Lampard’s return to the Stamford Bridge dugout has proved to be somewhat of a disaster. The club icon – known for his incredible goal return from a box-to-box midfield role – became the first manager in the 118-year history of the Blues to lose each of their first four matches in charge of the club.
The Blues slumped to a two-goal loss at home to Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday. It came just six days after they were comprehensively defeated by the same scoreline in the Spanish capital.
Lampard’s opening game of his second stint in charge of the Blues was a one-goal loss away to Wolves in the Premier League – they were firmly second-best at Molineux. He also oversaw Saturday’s defeat at home to Brighton, who outclassed his side at Stamford Bridge.
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Lampard refused to engage with a question on Pochettino’s impending arrival in Tuesday’s press conference. The interim coach told reporters: "The season sounds over from your questions, but I am Chelsea, for me, it is not over."
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Pochettino had also been heavily linked with a return to his former club Tottenham, where he previously managed for a remarkable five-and-a-half-year stint. The Argentine’s crowning coaching achievement to date came at the club, guiding them to the Champions League final in 2019.
However, the former defender did not win a trophy during his tenure in English football, having previously coached impressively at Southampton prior to his switch to Spurs in 2014. Winning the league with PSG in 2021-22 was not deemed a sufficient return by club officials.
Pochettino is believed to have held several meetings with Chelsea to be appointed as their next permanent boss, although it is likely that he will now take the hot seat until the end of the campaign. That would leave Lampard in charge for the club’s remaining league games, as they aim to improve on their current 11th-placed ranking.