By 90min | Created at 2024-11-30 11:17:37 | Updated at 2024-11-30 16:32:08
5 hours ago
Frank Lampard has described his interim managerial stint at Chelsea as like "babysitting" after being unveiled as the new Coventry City boss.
The former England international is back in the Championship with the Sky Blues, having last been employed as interim boss at Stamford Bridge in the aftermath of Graham Potter's dismissal in 2023.
Lampard could only win one of 11 games as Chelsea ended up finishing the season in 12th place, having come third the previous campaign under Thomas Tuchel. But he had a lot of players to preside over as new owner and chairman Todd Boehly began signing young stars in rafts.
The 46-year-old revealed: "When I rejoined Chelsea I went into a job that was a bit of babysitting from me, in terms of going in to tide them over for seven weeks.
Lampard had a tough interim spell at Chelsea / Alex Davidson/GettyImages
"And I learned a lot, not in terms of coaching because it was not a coaching job but a holding the baby job while the transition was happening. I learned if you don't get the environment right then it's very difficult to succeed."
Lampard had previously been in charge at Chelsea from 2019 to January 2021, dealing with a transfer embargo and giving a number of young players chances in west London. He then helped Everton stave off relegation in the 2021/22 season but was dismissed a year after his appointment.
His latest job is a tough one, with pre-season promotion hopefuls Coventry down in 17th place of England's second tier after losing eight of their first 17 Championship matches.
He added: "I am driven, I like to prove people wrong. I did it in my playing career a lot. As a manager you know you are going to have to prove someone wrong, it doesn't matter if it's me or Pep Guardiola.
"We have to live in a world of the spotlight when you are a head coach, but if you don't want that then don't sign up for it."
