Chelsea v Derby County: Frank Lampard returns to Stamford Bridge plotting the downfall of his former side
They say you should never go back. But for Frank Lampard tomorrow will undoubtedly be a pleasure as returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time as a manager.
Of course the level and origin of that pleasure will be determined somewhat by Derby County’s result against his former side Chelsea in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
However, one thing is certain: the Rams’ manager will receive a rapturous and warm ovation in west London tomorrow. After all, he happens to be Chelsea’s record goal-scorer, with 211 over 13 years at the club – a period that brought the Blues 11 major trophies.
Lampard may have moved on four years ago – first to Manchester City and New York City, then into coaching – but this will be his first visit to his old stomping ground as the opposing coach.
The 40-year-old, who will be accompanied as always by assistant and fellow ex-Blues player and academy boss Jody Morris, will not shy away from the emotion of the occasion.
“This [Derby] is my working home now and I have a great affiliation with this club already,” he said. “I’m working hard to try to do something good here, and I love it here. But I can’t forget 13 years of my career. It was a very special time for me.”
Fortunately for Lampard the return comes at a perfect time. Derby are much more than just a vehicle for their manager’s furtherance.
The Rams have already shown their ability to shock sides a division above, having knocked out Manchester United 8-7 on penalties in the previous round after a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in September.
Since that memorable night for Lampard against his embattled former boss, Jose Mourinho, Derby have gone from strength to strength, losing just once in six difficult Championship games to move into sixth place.
Gianfranco Zola – another former Chelsea player and now Maurizio Sarri’s assistant – said they had studied Derby so would not be caught cold. “We know their strengths,” he said. “We certainly respect their value – they’re a very good team.”
Aside from the result in the previous round and league form, one of the reasons Chelsea know all about Derby is because they scout them regularly – not to take a look at future assets, but to keep an eye on current ones.
That’s because two of Lampard’s brightest stars in the East Midlands are Blues loanees. Midfielder Mason Mount, who recently won his first senior England call-up, and defender Fikayo Tomori have been excellent this season, alongside Liverpool’s Welsh winger Harry Wilson.
Both Mount and Tomori have been granted permission to play against their parent club so Chelsea’s scouts won’t have to venture far tomorrow.
Lampard is an ambitious man and the occasion is about much more than just sentiment.
He has made a strong start to life in the dugout, turning Derby into an exciting, multi-faceted and efficient side. But he hopes his future will take him higher up the food chain – perhaps even to the seat Sarri currently occupies.
Dumping his former side out, disappointing 40,000 fans who used to adore him and reaching the EFL Cup quarter-finals would be a pretty good way to set that prophecy in motion.