FRANK LAMPARD reckons Raheem Sterling picked the wrong target in his crusade for more black managers.
Chelsea boss Lampard praised the outspoken Manchester City winger for his work combating racism and helping the Black Lives Matter campaign.
But Lamps feels his name does not belong in the debate about white ex-players getting the nod over their BAME counterparts.
Sterling questioned why former pros like Lampard and Steven Gerrard have been given top jobs in management while Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole have not.
Lampard said: “Raheem has been brave speaking about issues in the last two years and deserves huge credit for that.
“In the case of managers, I think Raheem got it slightly wrong from my point of view. It felt like a very casual comparison.
“If you compare opportunities and pathways of individual managers, you can compare myself, Steven, Sol, who did an incredible job at Macclesfield and is doing a job at Southend that any of us would find very difficult to do.
“With Raheem, I think the individual comparison when you don’t have the detail of each person’s pathway isn’t quite right. And again I will level that out because I want to say Raheem as a person and player and what he has stood up for in the last two years has been fantastic.
“So it is very hard to make that comparison from the outside. Those opportunities have to be equal for everybody.
“But within that are the details of how hard you have worked.
“I certainly worked from the start of my career to try to get this opportunity.”
Former England star Lampard, 42, has repeatedly denounced racism, whether it be from within dressing rooms, boardrooms or from the terraces.
He retired as a player in 2017 and immediately studied for his Uefa B and A licences and has just finished his Pro licence.
The Chelsea midfield legend cut his teeth in management with a year at Derby in 2018-19 before landing the plum job with the Blues last summer.
His old Stamford Bridge team-mate Cole is now an academy coach at the club.
And Lampard added: “Ashley Cole, who finished his career with me at Derby County last year and is working his way up here, is doing a great job and I think he is going to be successful whatever he wants to do.
“The club is one that makes huge statements and actions around any form of prejudice.
“Our owner wants success and I would like to think that no matter your background — and I’ve played for a lot of managers at this club — you will get a chance.
“The FA does a lot of good work. I’ve just finished my Pro licence and it was diverse, it was open. That needs to be encouraged.
“If there are things we can do to help make sure everybody gets equal opportunities and a pathway into management, it needs to be done.”
Sterling is back at Chelsea tonight 18 months after being abused by fans. One was banned for life as a result.
Lampard is boosted by wingers Pedro, 32, and Willian, 31, signing short-term contract extensions to the end of the season.
Arsenal are poised to take Brazilian flier Willian on a permanent deal after that.
