Chelsea supporters will be a lot happier to see Frank Lampard do well against them tonight than the last time he faced them at Stamford Bridge.
Lampard’s name will undoubtedly be sung before, during and after this evening’s fourth-round EFL Cup tie at the home of his former club.
The occasion will be in stark contrast to Lampard’s final visit as a player to west London, when he was wearing the shirt of rivals Manchester City.
To this day, Lampard regrets not being able to see out his career at Chelsea after the club decided not to give him a new contract.
The strange situation which saw the midfielder agree to join MLS side New York City only to end up spending the 2014-15 season at Manchester City did briefly threaten the love affair for some Chelsea fans.
It is understood that the then former Blues manager Jose Mourinho was worried that Lampard would make the difference for City in the title race.
When Lampard scored a late equaliser against his old side at the Etihad Stadium in September 2014, the Chelsea support accepted it in good grace and cheered him regardless.
By the time he returned for the top-of-the-table rematch in January, such feelings of warmth had disappeared.
Remarkably, as Lampard entered the fray with 14 minutes to go and the score at 1-1, there were boos from sections in the home end.
One supporter (below) was even pictured holding aloft a banner which read ‘Lampard, you are not a legend any more. You are a traitor to Chelsea and Chelsea fans’.
Lampard did not have much of an impact after he came on and the game finished 1-1. Chelsea went on to win the Premier League, Lampard moved to New York and the brief angst was all forgotten. There is more appreciation now for what Lampard is doing with a different English club.
The 40-year-old has effectively just begun his apprenticeship as a manager but the signs are good.
He has led Derby County to sixth place in the Championship, playing entertaining football, and knocked Mourinho’s Manchester United side out of the EFL Cup in the last round.
The way he is getting the best out of Chelsea youngsters Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori, both of whom are on loan at the Championship side and can face their parent club tonight, provides a hint of what he could do with the Blues squad.
Chelsea defender Gary Cahill played with Lampard at Stamford Bridge and is confident his former team-mate will go on to have a very successful managerial career.
He told Standard Sport: “I am not surprised he went into management. Can Frank get to the very top? Yes.
“Playing with him, I noticed two major things. Firstly, Frank is a very intelligent person. Secondly, he has a lot of football knowledge and experience that he has gained along the way.
“He has worked and played under the very best coaches, played in some of the biggest games and won a lot of trophies. He has a lot of knowledge to pass on to players and to teams.
“It’s early days at Derby but he has done a great job so far. He has brought in some young players and the football he is playing is entertaining. It’s just what I would expect from him.
“The first few months have gone really well and I wish him all the best — after tonight, of course.”
Cahill came on as a late substitute in that Manchester City game three years ago and he has no doubt over what kind of response Lampard will get this time around.
He added: “I am sure Frank will get a great reception. But he will be desperate to win. I know how competitive he is and that never leaves you.
“Whatever happens, I’m sure he will get a fantastic send off from the crowd afterwards.”
And should Lampard continue to impress, Chelsea fans may not have to wait too long to welcome him back again.
