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Frank Lampard says he has no problems with José Mourinho after clashing with the Tottenham manager in recent months.
Chelsea manager Lampard will face his former Blues boss and current Tottenham manager Mourinho in Sunday’s Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge.
The two London bosses have already clashed several times in their later roles. But Lampard insisted that any friction is simply part of the course of his trade.
Last season, Mourinho accused Lampard of using former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte’s system to win 2-0 in North London in December 2019.
Lampard later rejected Mourinho’s claim that he was merely offering management advice when the duo clashed on the touchline in Tottenham in the Carabao Cup clash in September..
Sunday’s battle in West London could easily throw up more pockets of inflammation. But Lampard remains relaxed about the changing dynamics between the two bosses.
Asked if he was surprised to receive criticism from Mourinho given his story, Lampard said: “It does not surprise me, not at all in management, because I think we all have similar jobs to do, and we all have to sit at these press conferences. and we all have our personalities.
“I respect José as a coach and I think that’s the way it is.
“I was not offended by talking about the Antonio Conte system or whatever.
“I clearly played that system very differently when we played it last year than Conte would have.
“José can have his opinions, it’s not a problem. I respect him and he is not controversial for me. “
Mourinho’s resurgent Spurs top the Premier League table ahead of the weekend’s matches, while Lampard’s Chelsea is in third place.
The Portuguese coach, Mourinho, seems to return to his best and sparkling moment as he has not been able to fully comply at Manchester United.
And Lampard believes he should never have doubted Mourinho’s continued management capabilities.
When asked if Spurs’ good form demonstrates Mourinho’s class, Lampard said: “Yes, of course it does. You don’t have as decorated a record as José Mourinho’s as a coach without being a very talented coach.
“And for all of us, the game is so reactionary at the moment, particularly in the modern era with social media reactions, that form will always be judged very harshly, for any coach.
“But they are in good shape, on a good streak, with good players and a good coach, and it will be a very difficult game for us.”
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Lampard thanks Abramovich
The Spurs clash on Sunday will be the 1,000th game of Roman Abramovich’s tenure as Chelsea owner.
Lampard praised the Chelsea boss’s huge impact on both his own career and the fortunes of the West London club.
“As a coach and player involved in many of those games, I can thank him enormously because nothing that we have accomplished in that era could have happened without him and his support,” Lampard said.
“When you speak first, of course, of a financial contribution, but also of the development of the training ground, the love and time invested in the academy, and the trophies that we have been able to win, obviously all have been made possible thanks to to the.
“So we are very grateful, I certainly am. Our goal now is to try to work to maintain success in the field. “
READ MORE: Lampard reveals a whirlwind of doubts that clouded the judgment on Chelsea’s work
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