‘Is he doing it as a favour? It’s turmoil!’: Ian Wright admits he is ‘worried’ for his friend Frank Lampard as he questions his decision to return to Chelsea as caretaker manager
Ian Wright fears for Frank Lampard’s managerial career after the latter’s decision to return to Chelsea as caretaker boss.
Lampard was brought in to replace Graham Potter until the end of the season. His second spell in charge got off to a poor start as Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat to Wolves.
It’s been a frustrating season for the Blues who are 11th in the Premier League and are 17 points off the top four – despite Todd Boehly spending around £600m since the summer transfer window.
Lampard in his first press conference back at the club said it was an ‘easy decision’ and vowed to give the fans ‘what they want’.
BBC pundit Wright though has doubts over how beneficial the move to return to Stamford Bridge is for Lampard.
Frank Lampard suffered defeat in his first match back as Chelsea’s caretaker manager
Ian Wright has questioned how beneficial the move to return to Chelsea’s dugout is for Lampard
Wright admitted he is ‘afraid’ for his friend as as it’s ‘not gone too well for him up to this point’
‘I’m afraid, I just want him to do so well. I’m afraid because it’s not gone too well for him up to this point,’ he said on the Wrighty’s House podcast.
‘Derby was okay, the Chelsea job was too good to turn down, then Everton and everything that’s happening there.
‘I’m just worried for a friend. Does this move help him? How does it help him? Is he doing it as a favour? Does he want to get back into management right now?
‘It’s turmoil at Chelsea at the moment. I’m very confused and worried about the whole thing. What’s in it for Frank?
‘Has he got enough time to organise these players and has he learnt enough from his last experience at Chelsea and Everton to feel he can get this team in place in the limited time he has?’
Lampard had just two days with the squad before their trip to the Molineux to play Wolves and it showed as their forwards offer little threat in a dismal showing.
Ian Wright believes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could play a role for Chelsea under Lampard
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came off the bench during the game, and though he didn’t produce a good showing, Wright feels the Gabon international could play an important role for Lampard.
He added: ‘The last time Lampard was at Chelsea, I remember him liking Aubameyang. He will score the chances Chelsea are creating right now. It feels like it’s set up for Aubameyang to come in. Chelsea could easily still start beating teams.’
Lampard has eight Premier League games left, as well as a two-legged quarter-final against Real Madrid in the Champions League.