Frank Lampard responds to Chelsea return link after Liam Rosenior sacking | Football

Frank Lampard insists he is only focused on finishing the season with Coventry City after being linked with a return to Chelsea.

Lampard guided Coventry City to the Championship title this week and the club will return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years after they were relegated at the end of the 2000-01 season.

Chelsea, meanwhile, sacked Liam Rosenior on Wednesday less than 24 hours after the team’s 3-0 defeat away to Brighton, which was their fifth Premier League loss in a row.

Lampard, who has had two managerial stints at Chelsea having been brought in as a caretaker three years ago, has been linked with another return to Stamford Bridge following Rosenior’s exit.

However, the 47-year-old has given no indication that he is ready to walk away from Coventry this summer ahead of their Premier League return.

‘I’ve been there and I never walk 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,’ Lampard said on Friday.

‘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 big enough to understand that. As a football club they’re in a difficult patch, they have a chance to be able to get something out of the season with the FA Cup and the league position if they can make that better.

‘But it’s Chelsea’s business. Chelsea are a big part of my life, but at the moment it’s their business and my business is here.’

Asked for a message to worried Coventry City fans, Lampard replied: ‘I’d like to think Coventry fans are just enjoying what we’ve done through this season.

‘I think the world of management, a lot of things are out of your control, all you can do is control your work. I have to come and speak to you about rumours, but at the minute I think we should just enjoy where we are.

‘It’s been an amazing season, I’m really proud and pleased to be a part of it. I enjoy doing what I’m doing. I can’t control who worries or not, I would say just enjoy this because it’s a special year.’

Speaking earlier this week, Coventry City owner Doug King said that he felt Lampard has now 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. I am sure he’s in reflective mode. I said to him ‘do not underestimate how difficult what you’ve just achieved is to do’,’ King told BBC CWR.

‘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.

‘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.’

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