Frank Lampard has hinted he could actually get the Chelsea job permanently in the summer after taking temporary charge of the club until the end of the season.
The former Chelsea captain replaces the recently sacked Graham Potter who lasted only seven months after steering the club to the bottom half of the table. It is Lampard's second stint in charge of the Stamford Bridge outfit after his reign from 2019 to 2021, before he was sacked and replaced by Potter's predecessor Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea have little chance of finishing in the top four and qualifying for the Champions League this season.
Blues chairman Todd Boehly has installed Lampard to simply steady the ship for the remainder of the campaign before deciding on what direction he'd like the club to go in next.
And although Lampard knows he has penned a temporary deal, he has hinted he could take the job permanently once again if things go better than expected from now until the end of the season.
"I am not getting ahead of myself in my role," Lampard said on Thursday after being announced as caretaker boss. "I want to do the best I can to impact the club in this period and we will see what happens afterwards."
Lampard admitted he was surprised to receive the call-up but that ultimately returning to Chelsea was an easy decision to make.
"[It was] a surprise in terms of you never know the decision the club are going to make. I've been particularly enjoying my time at home. When you get time at home you can throw yourself into your family.
"But it was easy decision for me, this is my club. I'm also a very practical person. I've been on a different path since I left Chelsea but to come back when I've been asked and I come back with a belief that I can help until the end of the season.
"I'm delighted to get the opportunity and I'm thankful. I've a good understanding of the squad, the training ground, the stadium and the fans and I'll do my best."
When asked if he ever saw himself in the Chelsea hot seat again, he added: "I didn't think I'd never be in this seat. I understand the club and the game.
"To be honest, it wasn't my thought to come back as a Chelsea manager. My job was just to be the best manager I can be. I don't see it as unfinished business. Now I'm here in a different period and just want to do as well as I can. Unfinished business just seems a little bit Hollywood."
Chelsea owners Boehly and Behdad Eghbali said in a joint statement: "We are delighted to welcome Frank back to Stamford Bridge. Frank is a Premier League Hall of Famer and a legend at this club.
"As we continue our thorough and exhaustive process for a permanent head coach, we want to provide the club and our fans with a clear and stable plan for the remainder of the season. We want to give ourselves every chance of success and Frank has all of the characteristics and qualities we need to drive us to the finish line.
"We have an important game against Wolves on Saturday and then we will turn our attention to our Champions League quarter-final in Madrid next week.
"We are all going to give Frank our full backing as we aim to get the best possible outcome from all our remaining games."
