Frank Lampard was set to travel to Real Madrid 'to do COMMENTARY'
BBC 5 Live’s Darren Fletcher reveals Frank Lampard was set to travel to Real Madrid ‘to do COMMENTARY’ on Chelsea’s Champions League clash but will now be travelling ‘in a very different capacity’ after being named interim manager
- Frank Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge as interim manager on Thursday
- The Blues will take on Real Madrid in the quarter-final of the Champions League
- Chelsea could target a swoop for Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti in summer
BBC 5 Live’s Darren Fletcher revealed that Frank Lampard was already scheduled to be co-commentating on Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid next week.
The Blues legend was appointed the club’s new interim manager on Thursday, tasked with guiding the club safely through to the end of the season.
As a result, he will now be travelling to the Spanish capital under somewhat different circumstances with all eyes on what is set to be just his second game in charge of his old club since his return.
One of the immediate tasks facing the ex-Everton boss, though, is negotiating a fiendish Champions League tie with the reigning champions, led by former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti.
And as part of 5 Live’s Friday Football Social, Fletcher read out a conversation he had with the ex-England midfielder.
Frank Lampard returned to Chelsea as interim boss on Thursday after Graham Potter’s exit
Darren Fletcher told Radio 5 Live’s Friday Football Social that Lampard was due to be co-commentating against Real Madrid in Chelsea’s Champions League quarter-final next week
Lampard is set to face off against Carlo Ancelotti, who coached him during his playing days
‘Frank Lampard was supposed to be with us in Madrid to do commentary for the Real Madrid vs Chelsea match with me.
‘He sent me a message saying “I’m supposed to be there working with you, and now I’m going to be on the line!”
‘It’s total madness that he was going to be there anyway – now he’s going to be there in a very important capacity, let alone watching it and analysing it!
‘You can imagine what his head’s like at the minute, when you were supposed to be working for the television, but now not only are you going to be there, but you’re going to be picking the team, working out the tactics, trying to motivate everybody – and in the process try and beat the European champions.’
Lampard’s second stint in the dugout for his former club kicks off on Saturday, when the Blues take on Wolves at Molineux at 3pm.
Chelsea’s record goal scorer has inherited a side stuck in the second half of the table in 11th place after Graham Potter’s exit last week.
The ex-Brighton boss struggled to get consistency out of a Chelsea squad that saw a mass influx of players in both the summer and winter transfer windows, with the club spending more than £300million in the latter alone.
Lampard arrives back at Stamford Bridge after a difficult spell at Everton, departing earlier this season with the club fighting relegation for the second successive season.
And while the hunt for a permanent successor to Potter continues, Lampard insisted that it was clear he would only be taking charge in the short-term.
The ex-England midfielder insisted it was ‘clear’ his return was only in a short-term capacity
His first game back in charge of the club comes against Julen Lopetegui’s Wolves on Saturday
‘It’s clear what the role is in terms of the title of the role,’ he said. ‘I absolutely understand that. I want to do as well as I can in this period to show that I’m capable of coaching and managing really well, then we’ll see what happens. I don’t need answers to that point.
‘The feeling I have from the club is that they want to do a process to find the right person to take it forward, whoever that may be. That’s absolutely their prerogative. Maybe that’s why I’m here in this period. It’s not for me to decide what the club’s process and how they go about it is.
‘This is a club that I’m connected to. I just want to do well in this moment. Then after that, it may mean that I say ‘thank you very much’ and look at the future.
‘At that point I’ll be very happy and say ‘thanks, I think I’ve given everything there’. I can’t get ahead of my station at all. I’m just here to try and affect this period.’
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