Frank Lampard has revealed that he doesn't have any ambition to stay on at Chelsea as manager or coach past this season after suffering yet another loss. The 44-year-old was beaten once again on Sunday, this time by newly crowned league champions, Manchester City.
It adds to a terrible recent personal record and overall run of form for the club that has left them without the possibility of a top-half finish. Even with nothing tangible to play for during most of his interim spell in charge, the performances and results under Lampard have left plenty to be desired.
The good news for fans once more tired of a long and deeply unsatisfying season is that there are only two games to go before a new era starts. Although Mauricio Pochettino is yet to be announced he is still expected to become the third permanent head coach under Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital in the past 12-months.
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Having agreed a deal to take over at the end of the season, Pochettino is now just an announcement away from being confirmed to the public. In the mean time he will be watching on from afar during matches against Manchester United and Newcastle.
For Lampard it is a final chance to give back to the adoring fans that have sung his name throughout this rotton spell. There is no chance of him being at the club next year, however. Despite the club's desire to keep one internally appointed coach as part of the staff list, even for a new boss, Lampard is not planning on remaining.
"No. A new manager will come in and bring his own coaches, I'm sure," he said when asked about the opportunity to take on a new role within the club. Lampard still has goals of managing at the top level once again himself. The series of defeats at Stamford Bridge isn't likely to help that cause but he has remained positive throughout.
Before the game he explained why it had been a good experience. “I have enjoyed it," he admitted. "I get asked it a lot. You always want to get results but you have to be realistic in football. When I came into this, a Champions League dream that everyone talked to me about when I first come. 'It's been done before, can we do it again?' the realistic answer is we are where we are in the league for a reason.
"Our view at that point was to try and beat Madrid and then possible City to get to the final. That was a difficult one. The rest of the job is how many small wins can I try to impact behind the scenes. You can't always impact results.
"Generally there's a lot of work to do here. You can have little small impacts on individuals within the group because I have a big feeling for the club, when I walk away I want to be able to say I've done that. I enjoy coming to work trying to improve players and the ones that want to be improved and are good to work with, I think they will all have impressive careers here going forward."
The task will shortly be at the door of Pochettino and Lampard will be able to take a backwards step and watch on once again himself.
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