Frank Lampard has insisted his focus remains on finishing the season with Coventry City, despite being linked with a return to Chelsea following the sacking of Liam Rosenior. The 47-year-old guided Coventry to the Championship title this week, securing the club's return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years since their relegation at the end of the 2000-01 season.
Lampard's Response to Chelsea Links
Speaking on Friday, Lampard addressed the speculation but refused to comment on Rosenior's dismissal. 'I've been there and I never want to talk too much about managers because of context behind the scenes. I think it's disrespectful to have a judgement on it; that's for pundits to have a judgement,' he said. 'It's a difficult patch for sure. We as managers know that in those difficult patches the consequences that can be. I think we all have to be big enough to understand that.'
He added that while Chelsea are 'a big part of my life', his current priority is Coventry. 'At the moment it's their business, and my business is here,' Lampard stated.
Chelsea's Recent Struggles
Chelsea sacked Liam Rosenior on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after a 3-0 defeat away to Brighton, which was their fifth consecutive Premier League loss. Lampard, who has had two managerial stints at Chelsea, most recently as a caretaker three years ago, has been touted as a potential replacement. However, he gave no indication of leaving Coventry this summer before their Premier League return.
Owner Doug King on Lampard's Future
Coventry City owner Doug King earlier this week expressed his belief that Lampard has found his 'happy place' after guiding the club to promotion. 'He's done a fantastic job, it's been an incredible 18 months for us and for him,' King told BBC CWR. 'I said to him, do not underestimate how difficult what you've just achieved is to do. He's done huge things in his playing career, but to get out of this league as champions without a parachute payment, from where we've come from, is a huge achievement nobody can take away from him.'
King acknowledged that interest in Lampard is inevitable. 'Everybody is going to get linked with everything; it's a merry-go-round. It's a bit disappointing clubs are appointing three or four managers a season. We don't want to be in those positions; that means something has gone a little bit astray. You can see how emotionally connected he is with the city, you can see what it meant to him to get promotion and then the title, and I think he's found a happy place at the moment. It doesn't mean there's not going to be some staggering bid for him in the summer and he'll have to make his choices, because he's shown his credentials as a high quality head coach, but I'm not going to comment on that; I can't control it. I just think he's happy, I'm happy, everybody's happy; we've just got smiles on our faces and we don't worry about what may or may not happen for the head coach.'
