Frank Lampard came out fighting as he insisted he can handle the pressure surrounding his job.
Lampard is determined to turn the club’s fortunes around after a run of just two wins in their last eight Premier League games and defeat to Luton in the FA Cup would be unthinkable.
Blues boss Lampard was one of Chelsea ’s all time great players, reached the top of the game with club and country and is convinced he will come out of his first real sticky spell as a manager.
Lampard said: “I’m a fighter first and foremost. It’s how I managed to make a career out of the game as a player. When I packed up I could have easily stayed in the media or come out of football altogether.
“I didn’t need to get back in. I got back in with a desire to be successful. I didn’t have blinkers on. I knew that there will be tough times and things that you can’t control like you did as a player.
“Luckily I have been in the game a long time and as a player here I always wondered, as I wanted to be a manager: ‘what do tough times look and feel like? How does the responsibility differ as a manager to a player?’
“Fortunately, in the 18 months or so I have been here I have experienced both levels. I have had some really good games.
"Good, individual games at the end of last season. Last game of last season to qualify for the Champions League.
“And I wondered what the tough times look like. And it’s fine. It is what it is. You have to go into it wanting to handle pressure, wanting to handle success by being humble about it at all times.
“That’s why I am maybe a bit short with some of my answers to some people today. I know that some of the talk is nonsense, it’s only the action that matters so all that I will control is what’s in front of me.”
Lampard, 42, knew the rules of engagement when he took the Chelsea job, the expectation levels and yet excelled in his first season by reaching the Champions League places after being under a transfer ban.
Being a club legend has only bought him so much credit in the bank but also his age and perceived lack of experience has been another stick to beat him with.
Lampard said: “I’m not stupid. I know the pressures which come with managing a top football club but I only do my job so it doesn’t matter to me.
“I think when we’re winning games and unbeaten it’s a great thing, it’s exciting and young. When you’re not winning games then you’re too young and inexperienced. I get that perception.
“A while ago I spoke to a really, really experienced and massively successful manager who’s retired now and he told me once that people talk about experience and it’s the most overtalked thing in management.
“He felt that he became a worse manager as he got older as he started to second guess and overthink things and all the experiences he’d had kind of went over the top of each other. I don’t know that one.
“Some managers have great success at a young age, some less so and it takes them time. Everyone’s path is different.”
