FRANK LAMPARD believes football management has become far more intense in the last 20 years.
The Chelsea boss worked with an array of managers during his playing days at Stamford Bridge and insists he has learned from those experiences.
Lampard, 41, had mixed fortunes — a powerful and dynamic close relationship with Jose Mourinho before a falling out with Andre Villas-Boas.
But in a new book out now, ‘The Boss — Chelsea managers from Ted Drake to Frank Lampard’, the Blues chief lifts the lid on the changing face of dugout life.
Lampard said: “It is a vastly different era now. There is a lot more structure to the clubs, with managers much more under the microscope than at any other time in the game’s history.
“Of course, as I played for 13 years at this club, I played for many managers.
“And I did have my issues from time to time, such as experiencing a tough period when Villas-Boas was boss and left me out of the team.
“We did have a conflict, but now I see it from the other side of the fence and see it differently than I would have done as a player.
“The job of management has also become far more intense over the last 20 years, especially in the Roman Abramovich era as there are high expectations which bring high levels of pressure.
“This in turn makes for some difficult decisions for managers, who need a very strong squad of players with strong personalities.
“Having played under so many managers, I’ve gained a great deal of experience.
“They all gave me food for thought on approaching the job in a different way.
“I don’t think a Chelsea manager 25 years ago would have needed the same qualities he needs now.
“I’ve taken many qualities from the managers I’ve played under. Some I’d disagree with, others I would think had the right approach.
“But all those aspects, in their different ways are an aid to the way I would like to manage myself.”
Lampard moved into the Chelsea hotseat last summer following an impressive spell at Derby, which saw the Championship side reach the play-off final.
And the ex-England midfielder, who replaced Maurizio Sarri, believes he can succeed as a manager like he did as a player — when he won three Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Lampard added: “You wouldn’t have dreamed the Chelsea job would come along after a year at Derby.
“Was it the right decision to take the job so early?
“It was a question posed at the time of my appointment — whether it was too early in my development as manager.
“But I didn’t ask myself whether it was too early. I had confidence in my ability.
“But I understand why it was the first question.
“I had a wonderful playing career with Chelsea but that has nothing to do with my new role as manager.
“This is a challenge I had no fear of taking and have no fear of doing.
“My objective is simple — to be as successful as it is possible to be at Chelsea.
“If I don’t, then that should not influence what I achieved in 13 years as a player.
“But my intention is to succeed as a manager the way I succeeded as a player.”
- The Boss — Chelsea managers from Ted Drake to Frank Lampard, by Harry Harris, is out now from Empire Publications, priced at £9.99. Available from Amazon.
