Former Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole believes Frank Lampard will be a success at Stamford Bridge, claiming he has "all the tools to be a big manager".
Cole played under Lampard at Derby County, having signed a short-term deal with the Rams in January, and has first-hand experience of his managerial skills.
Lampard had a baptism of fire in his opening Premier League game at Old Trafford, with the Blues going down to a 4-0 defeat, and receiving some criticism afterwards.
But Cole insists Lampard has shown from his spell in charge at Derby that he has what it takes.
“It’s a big job, a job that’s in the limelight, but he’s got the tools to be a great manager,” Cole told Sky Sports.
“He showed it at Derby, in terms of how we played. We played very good football, effective football, and now he’s coming to a bigger club with bigger and better players.
“Yes, he’s going to be under pressure at times but I feel he’s got all the tools to be a big manager.”
Cole added that although the Chelsea fans are craving immediate success they will know they have to be patient, particularly given the current transfer embargo the club is under.
“They (the fans) want it now but obviously with the transfer embargo, I think that’s given him a little bit of a leeway. But the inability to sign players has provided their crop of youngsters the chance to show what they can do," Cole added.
“Maybe they need another striker? (But) he can’t bring one in. On the flip side of that, now we’re going to see some homegrown players in the form of Mason (Mount), (Fikayo) Tomori and (Tammy) Abraham.”
