Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has backed Frank Lampard to succeed in his second stint as Chelsea manager as the two managers prepare to go head-to-head in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Blues legend was sacked in 2021 just months before Thomas Tuchel led the west Londoners to the Champions League glory.
Chelsea are searching for a new permanent manager to replace Graham Potter after he was sacked following a poor six months in charge at Stamford Bridge. Potter became the second managerial casualty at Chelsea this season after he replaced Tuchel last year in September.
football.london understands the Blues will not rush the process of appointing a new manager with former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann currently a serious contender to take over from Lampard ahead of next season. The former Everton boss has been appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the current campaign as he aims to repeat Tuchel's success in Europe from two years ago.
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Speaking ahead of Chelsea's trip to the Santiago Bernabeu, Ancelotti offered his support to Lampard and believes the Blues legend will be a 'very good' appointment. The Madrid boss said: "I think Lampard will do a very good job."
Ancelotti has already ruled himself out of a return to Stamford Bridge, with the club looking for a new manager to take over Todd Boehly's long-term project. The Italian continued: "I'm sad - I have fantastic memories of my time at the club.
"I spent two very good years there. [But] I won't return there."
Ancelotti would have been a popular candidate with the Blues' fanbase after many felt his sacking by Roman Abramovich was unjust, having guided Chelsea to the Premier League title in the 2009/10 campaign and a second-placed finish the following season.
The Italian led Madrid to Champions League glory last term and has since been linked with taking over the Brazil national team, but he will definitely not be returning to England any time soon.
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