Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has been told a Chelsea comeback could be on the cards in the future after turning the Sky Blues into Championship play-off contenders
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Coventry City manager Frank Lampard celebrates the second goal for his team during the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City FC and Sunderland
Frank Lampard has been told he could have a future at Chelsea following his fine work with Coventry
(Image: Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
The third time could be the charm for Frank Lampard at Chelsea after his work at Coventry City has earned him all the right kinds of attention.
That's according to former England midfielder Andy Townsend, who has praised his former Premier League rival for his latest coaching stint. Lampard, 46, has managed Chelsea on two previous occasions with differing results, either side of a largely disappointing spell in charge of Everton.
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But the Stamford Bridge icon has enjoyed what could be the biggest stint of his coaching career to date after guiding Coventry into Championship play-off contention. And Townsend believes it could be enough to earn him another call from some familiar faces in west London.
"Should he go back to Chelsea? There would always be a massive temptation for him considering his relationship with the club," he told OLBG. "I mean, you never say never and it could happen. But if I was him, I wouldn't be thinking about that and I'm sure he's not. If that happens, he'll cross that bridge when he comes to it."
The Sky Blues were sat 15th in the Championship and staring at a potential relegation battle when they dismissed Mark Robins in November. After failing to win any of his first three games in charge, Lampard has led a revival of mythical proportions, however, and moved the team up 10 places.
Lampard's first term at Chelsea was a success in that he managed to steer the club to fourth in the league and an FA Cup final. All that despite the fact the Blues were serving a transfer embargo when he arrived, and the club icon was praised for bringing through a swathe of youth talents who became first-team regulars.
He was eventually sacked in January 2021 but returned a little more than two years later on an interim basis. Following the dismissal of Graham Potter, Lampard returned in an effort to stop the rot that had seen Chelsea linger at mid-table, but things only got worse as they finished the 2022/23 campaign in 12th and won just one of their 11 matches under him.
Haji Wright of Coventry City is congratulated by head coach Frank Lampard after the Sky Bet Championship match between Coventry City FC and Sunderland
Lampard has put Coventry in with a chance of Championship promotion
Coventry have won 10 of their last 12 games with the Premier League legend in charge. Chelsea occupy a similar position in the Premier League and sit fourth, one point ahead of Manchester City but 21 points below leaders Liverpool.
Enzo Maresca's first season in west London started superbly as Chelsea earned early calls as potential title contenders. However, confidence in the Italian has waned somewhat after a run of just four wins from their last 13 league outings.
Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea
Enzo Maresca has seen form wobble following a strong start to life at Chelsea
Maresca's men were also ousted from the FA Cup in February during a stretch that saw them go seven straight away games without a win. However, they stand a superb chance at silverware after reaching the Europa Conference League quarter-finals, where they're set to face Polish side Legia Warsaw.
Depending on how the next couple of months go, Lampard could find himself managing in the Premier League once more, one way or another. However, it's Townsend's belief he should keep concentrating on the work that's earned him high praise once more.
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