Lampard says 'easy decision' to return to Chelsea

LONDON : When Chelsea came calling Frank Lampard admits it was an "easy decision" to accept a caretaker manager role back at a club where he set records, won multiple trophies and was eventually sacked.

The 44-year-old was confirmed as the club's interim manager on Thursday in the wake of Graham Potter's dismissal - giving him an unexpected chance to reclaim the Stamford Bridge hotseat.

Lampard, who scored a record 211 goals in all competitions for the club and won 13 trophies as a player, was dismissed as manager in January 2021 after 84 games in charge and replaced by Thomas Tuchel.

But the soccer merry-go-round saw Tuchel sacked in September and then his replacement Potter parted ways last week with the London club 11th in the Premier League standings.

Lampard has been tasked with stabilising the ship while the club's co-controlling owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali choose a long-term appointment.

Whether or not Lampard himself becomes an option depends very much on what impact he has on a seriously under-performing squad that cost hundreds of millions of pounds to assemble but has won only 10 of 29 league games.

For Lampard, however, having the chance to return to what he described as "my club" was an offer he could not refuse.

"It was a pretty easy decision for me," Lampard told reporters. "This is my club in terms of my playing career and having managed and coached here before.

"I'm delighted and thankful for the people that have given me that opportunity, I'm confident in myself, I have a good understanding of the squad, the training ground, the stadium and the fans. I'll do my utmost to give them what they want."

Asked if the role could become permanent, Lampard said he "would not get ahead of himself" and was