This is MY CLUB! | Frank Lampard marks SENSATIONAL return to Chelsea

I'd like to introduce you to our caretaker manager, Frank Lampard. It'll just be a normal format for this press conference. We'll go up on session first and then Dave is to follow. And we're going to start with Paul Gilmore at Sky. And I'll just have to sit for it once you let the camera roll. Paul. Frank, it's been eventful, welcome back. Thank you. Why have you decided to take on this caretaker role? It's a pretty easy decision for me. This is my club. In terms of my playing career and having managed coached here before. So I have a lot of emotions and feelings towards the club. I'm also a very practical person. And when you become a manager, you understand it. You don't manage the club that you saved your club forever. And obviously I've been on a different path since I left Chelsea. But to come back in a time where the club have asked me to come and take the role. Of course that's the most important thing. But also with a belief that I can come and help the cause in this period to the end of the season. So I'm delighted to get that opportunity and I want to be thankful for that. To the people that decided to give me that opportunity. I'm confident in myself. I have a good understanding of the squad. Of course I've worked with a lot of them before. But also the training ground. The stadium. The fans. What Chelsea fans want. And I'll do my utmost in this period coming. To give them what they want with my own hard work. Have you been told that this is strictly until the end of the season? Regardless of what happens on the pitch? No. But I think the role and the explanation of my role speaks for itself. In the period that I'm here for. So on that term I'm not getting anywhere ahead of myself. I want to do the best possible role in a way that I can impact the club in the best way in this period. And after that we'll see what happens. Because you'll be aware obviously. Roberto Di Matteo when he led the team to Champions League glory. And stayed on. Is that an incentive for you? I don't think it's worth speaking about past moments. Roberto did an incredible job and stayed on. That's a different part of Chelsea's history. And for me in simple terms it won't be my decision as such. So again I don't want to jump forward to that. I understand I'm probably going to get asked that question a lot. And asked a series of questions. I've got my eyes wide open. I expect those questions. But the important thing for me is to park that to the side and focus on the job in hand for me. And I'm very excited to do that. Along with the staff that I will be working with. And the players that I will be working with. Because I was at the game on Tuesday night. I know there's a lot of talent in this squad. Not just the players that played on Tuesday. But generally I'm excited to work with that talent. And help them. And that's why I'm here. And the two key areas I suppose. How do you manage the fact that it is quite a big squad of players? And also maybe the goal scoring problems. Are those two areas in particular somewhere you can improve? Well yeah I hope so. Modern day football has big squads. And I understand that Chelsea might be at the top end of that. I remember being here before. And I had lots of difficult decisions of really good players and good people. That you have to tell you're not involved this week. And part of the job is to try and manage that situation. And make every player feel included. Maybe in the beginning going into this with it being a short term. That's a positive thing for me. Because everyone can have a clean slate as such right now. And show in training. And show what they can do and be competitive in training. And the competitive nature that will then cross over to the pitch. That's the good thing about a squad. You push each other. And I'll try and manage that. In terms of the goal scoring. There's no genius answer for a coach to explain to you. About scoring goals to a point. You can set up the structure of a team. Work to get the team in a dominant area of the pitch a lot. And again we saw that against Liverpool. A lot of good chances. So all I'll be here is to work with repetition on the training ground. To work in terms of speaking to the players. Fortunately it was one of the parts of my game that was a big part of my game. And that's not me comparing anything. That's just understanding the mindset that it takes. To be that aggressive, cold-hearted nature to want to score goals. And I know the players will have that. It's just a case of trying to direct that in the right way. One player you played a key role in developing. And he excelled in that. Mason Mount. What are you made of his situation at the moment? I wonder how much influence can you have over such situations that could impact on the future of the football team? I don't know enough about it to talk about it. And I think it would probably be wrong for me to delve into anything other than Mason has always been a fantastic player for me. From my days at Derby. The impact he had there. To when I came back to Chelsea. And it's with absolute pleasure that I've watched him. Amongst others that I coach in that period. In terms of Rhys, James. We've got Tammy Abraham and Tamori. And others, if I missed them, to have gone on. And I've had huge players here or elsewhere. So that's great. But with Mason, I know he's had a few slight injury problems maybe. So I understand that. So the important thing would be to speak to him. Find out where he's at. But I know what I get from Mason. So in that terms, I just want to see him perform on the pitch. And of course, we have a good relationship. So we'll talk a lot. I think he's a huge player for Chelsea. And has been in his time here. So I look forward to talking to him more. And what's your thought process for picking a team? Quite a tight turnaround, I guess, for the Williams team. Yeah. And I've been thinking about it a lot. This morning, speaking to people that are going to be helping me to do this job. So I have my idea about where I want to go. And as I say, I watched the team. And credit to Bruno who took the team. I want to say credit to Graham Potter. I think I don't know that well. But everything I see about him is a good man. And a very good coach. And sometimes, maybe for whatever reason, things don't align. Don't work. Whatever. I've been in that situation personally. So there's nothing that I will do that will look backwards. Other than things that can help us with a view to how we move forward. But I'll obviously have my own ideas. Would you just like to confirm your coaching staff as well? I can't at this point, unfortunately. Just firstly, what is the target? It's obviously such a short period of time between now and the end of the season. Two huge games against Real Madrid coming up. What is the target for you, for this team, for now until the end of the season? I think to attempt to install the highest level of confidence I can with the group. For them to exert and show a level of passion of playing for Chelsea. And an urgency and energy in their game. I think those are the principles that I really want to talk to the players about. And in terms of targets, we want to win as many games as we can. It's the simplest answer you're going to get. It's more complicated than that. But at the same time, I think there are big games ahead of us. And every game is hard. Premier League is hard. Champions League, of course, is hard. But we have to have a belief in the players within the squad. I've got a huge belief in them from the outside. And I'll tell them that today. And so it's how can we take that in the right direction. And then, of course, we want to win games. Obviously, when you got let go a couple of years ago, you sort of got Chelsea through the group stages of the Champions League and didn't get the chance to take them in the knockout stages. So do you feel like now this is your chance to have that experience of managing Chelsea in the knockout stages of the Champions League? Well, it's certainly a chance. With the two games we have coming up, I'm not naive. Real Madrid is a huge football club. Obviously, they're the current Champions League winners. So a fantastic team. So I'm not going to sit here and make all these crazy talk about that. And then what might be in that difficult semi-final that may be after that in the final, that's far away. And my job is to go step by step. But, of course, having played a part and coached in the Champions League here for two years, the first year we were here, we got through the group and lost it by a minute. The second year, we got through the group well. And, of course, I left and the club went on to a fantastic achievement. So those things are sort of in the past for me. But, of course, I'm excited to be fighting in that competition again because it's the best. You mentioned the fans and how important the fans are. Do you have a message for the Chelsea fans out there? Because I know obviously a lot of them will be very delighted that you're back at the club managing for a second time. Do you have a message for them? Well, I'm very thankful for the ones that are delighted. If there are some that are not delighted, they can know that I will work my utmost to get the team to where I want it to be and give them a team that they're proud of. But I don't think I need... I don't want this to sound too casual, but I don't think I need to speak too much about my relationship with the Chelsea fans. I played here for 13 years. I coached here. I had a lot of incredible moments and some difficult moments because that's football. But from the moment I joined this club many years ago, I can't even remember the year almost, they've been a huge support to me and I'm forever thankful for that. So if I can be here, if I can help this club and we can come together and we can fill those days at Stamford Bridge and nights at Stamford Bridge and feel an energy in this period of the season, then that's what I'm here to try and do. And just finally, I know it's obviously looking ahead because obviously you've got all these around you before the Brighton game, but what's it going to be like for you again stepping out at Stamford Bridge tonight? Really exciting. I was there the other... on Tuesday night and it's the first time I've been back since I left the club previously. And it was for different reasons, but it was an amazing buzz to be back at Stamford Bridge. My seat will be slightly different against Brighton, but at the same time I can't take away the basic feeling of excitement inside for that. And I'll be very proud. I'm proud to manage this club. It's something that I don't have to harp on about too much, but I look forward to the opportunity. Thank you. Hi Frank, how are you? Hi, good thanks. Can you explain how it all came about? When you got the phone call, was it a surprise when you got the call? Of course a surprise in terms of you never know a decision the club is going to make. There's been lots of change in the Premier League this year and of course you're aware of that. I've been particularly enjoying my period of time at home. It's one of the things as a manager and coach where the game can be fluid at times that when you get periods to be at home you can really throw yourself into your family and my children and my wife etc. Things I had to probably put to the side by being up in Edderton for a year. So that was a surprise because I've been pretty happy in that position. But when I spoke to Paul and Lawrence in the last 24-48 hours and they put forward what this is now and what it's ended up being it was obviously for me as I said in the beginning a decision that was not simple. The Chelsea Football Cup can't be a simple decision. You have to take things into account personally, what it means to your heart and what it means to your head. But that decision obviously came through. And you've obviously had some big challenges already in your managing career. But how big a challenge is this one? Especially you've got five days, six days to try and prepare a team for a round the drip. Yeah, it's a big challenge. But aren't they all? That's not just my own world of coming to Chelsea for the first time with a lot of young players and the transfer ban. Everton, everyone saw. That's my story. Every manager will have that story. Everything's a challenge. We've seen how the Premier League is. So I have complete sympathy for all managers that maybe lose jobs and move on. And also congratulations to managers that have success because I know the work. So I'm ready just to put my work into these challenges in front of me and take it day by day. I've got a clear idea of what I want to do in this period. But the biggest thing for me now is to be able to speak to the players and to fill them out on the grass and try and impact them. Are you surprised where Chelsea are at the moment, 11th in the Premier League, given that you've spoken about the squad and the quality that is in the squad? I don't think football can surprise you really like that. Personally, I think because it's such a competitive league. I don't think it's my position to comment on the why's and how's that the club is where it is now. It's my position to try and find the right energy, the right results to try and move us into a more positive direction. Because this is Chelsea Football Club. We know we don't want to be in the 11th position. But the reality is that where we are, there's been change, there's been transition, there's been change in the squad. We have, I think I mentioned before, a lot of talent in the squad. And it's very clear and very obvious when you look at stories around the Premier League and its history. Those things take a bit of time. And everyone will try and work in the right direction. So I think some things have to be understandable but some things you want to get there quickly because you want to work and make it show. So if I can play my part in that, then great. Good luck, enjoy it. Thank you. Two more for this section, starting with Gerry Peters. Great. Hi Gerry. Welcome back. Han and Mark, do you think, when you left two years ago, did you ever think you'd be back in that seat? And is there a level of unfinished business in the Premier League? I didn't think I'd never be in this seat. I'm a confident person. I want to work hard. I understand the game. And this club, obviously, I have a big connection with. But if I'm honest, it wasn't my thought, one day I'll be back as Chelsea manager because my job is to be as good a manager as I can be. And it would be useless to sit there and think about what might be down the line. So it wasn't the first part of my mind, no. In terms of unfinished business, I don't quite see it like that. I was here for that period of time. I look back on it with really good feelings about the positives. And when I reflected all the things, I thought maybe I could have done that a little bit better. I think most managers will be the same. And now I'm here in a different period, a different era. And I just want to do as well as I can. That unfinished business sounds a little bit Hollywood. It's like you're looking for a great line. I want to work. And of course, I want to help this club as much as I can. Hi Frank. Hi Simon, how are you? I'm good, I'm good. I just wondered, because you were a player when interns came in, like the Birds of Christ, and they made a big impact. Is there anything you can take from what you experienced as a player from then that you can tell the players yourself, as a coach, now that you're interning too, that will help? Yeah, maybe. Because I think I've got real fond and good memories of both the managers you mentioned. And we had some more, I think. But in terms of the success that I personally felt under Robbie, which is obviously the Champions League, I saw how he affected the group and the personal relationships that he had and obviously the football instincts that he had. And in Gus's own way, similarly, he had great personal touch, he had a great football brain. So those little things that I remember from those periods, of course I will try and affect them, because this is a job that's in hand, it's in front of me now. So I'll be stupid to not rely on some things that obviously I felt were good, but I also have to do the things that I think are right now. So, you know, both together. And I know you talk about titles, you can't talk too much, but in terms of the league, how important could it be for Chelsea to be in the European Cup, even though it's not top four, It's really important. But at the same time, we're in this situation now where we would all love to get there. But the reality is we have to win games to give ourselves a fighting chance of being there. So I really don't want to go there at this point. But I understand your point because Chelsea has a history of being in Europe. But at the same time here, as I mentioned, whatever challenges there have been this season, I'm not here to talk about them. I'm here to go, what maximum impact can I have from now until the end of the season? And of course, I can set higher bars for myself now. They'll be useless anyway. It's more important about how I work. Okay, that completes that section. So cameras off, please.