Frank Lampard sends message to Graham Potter after Chelsea sacking

Frank Lampard has credited Graham Potter and Bruno Saltor for their efforts with Chelsea this season after succeeding the pair at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old has taken temporary charge of Chelsea until the end of the season after the club decided to appoint him in place of Bruno, who took charge of their 0-0 draw against Liverpool on Tuesday night in the Premier League.

Bruno was put in place after Potter was sacked by the club following 31 games in charge. The 47-year-old left Chelsea in 11th place in the league and still in the Champions League, with a quarter-final tie awaiting Real Madrid next week.

But after making it clear he wasn’t keen on taking over as interim for a prolonged period, Lampard has taken the hot-seat for the last two months of the season for the final nine Premier League games and Champions League campaign.

Lampard is ready to bring his own ideas to the squad in order to boost confidence and belief levels, while hoping it can reflect on the performances and results to give Chelsea the best chance of finishing the season strongly and lifting them up from the bottom half into the top half of the table.

Despite the challenging season under Thomas Tuchel and Potter, Lampard was full of praise for his predecessor who has just departed.

Lampard told reporters: “I have my idea about where I want to go. I watched the team, so credit to Bruno who took the team, credit to Graham Potter who I don’t know that well but everything I see about him, he’s a good man and a very good coach and sometimes for whatever reason things don’t align, don’t work, whatever, I’ve been in that situation personally. There’s nothing that I will do that will look backwards other than with a view to how we move forward. I obviously have my own ideas.”

The Chelsea interim boss refused to get drawn into how the club have ended up into position they are in this season amid the transition and change, however is relishing the chance of steering the Blues back into the right direction.

Lampard concluded: “I don’t think football can surprise you like that because it’s such a competitive league. I don’t think it’s my position to comment on the whys and hows the club is where it is now. It’s my position to try and find the right energy and results to try and move us in a more positive direction.

“This is Chelsea Football Club we know we don’t want to be in 11th position but the reality is that is where we are. There’s been change, there’s been transition, there’s been change in the squad, there’s a lot of talent in the squad and it’s very clear when you look around the Premier League and its history those things take a bit of time.

“Everyone will try and work in the right direction. Some things have to be understandable but somethings you want to get there quickly because you want your work to show. If I can play my part in that then great.”

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