Frank Lampard has said that “I will never feel like I am saying goodbye” to Chelsea ahead of his final game in charge as Blues boss on Saturday.
The Englishman joined Chelsea in March for his second tenure after Graham Porter was sacked due to unconvincing results, but things have not gone as he had expected.
He has won just one game since his return, with Chelsea in 12th going into the final game of the season against Newcastle on Sunday. It’s the first time the Blues will be finishing in the bottom half since 1995-96.
“I don’t want this to sound corny but I don’t feel like it is a goodbye,” he said. “I appreciate that it will be the end of the season and the end of my time back but normally you don’t have a hurrah as a manager.
“I will never feel like I am saying goodbye to the fans. I live close enough to the stadium and I will be back at Chelsea many times.”
After replacing Porter, Lampard became the third manager to take charge of Chelsea this season, but his second term in charge has been as unsuccessful as the past managers that came before him.
“When you take on a managerial career it doesn’t mean you will be at a club you had 13 years at as a player forever.
“I certainly do appreciate the fans’ support on Sunday. More than anything I would love to give them a performance to take away for the summer and feel a bit more positive about.”
Former Tottenham Hotspur and PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino is rumoured to take over from Lampard at the end of the season, with the Blues set to announce the deal soon.
