"To Go Back To Chelsea Is A Special One For Me"

Manager Frank Lampard admitted it will be a special occasion for him to go back to Stamford Bridge as he takes his Derby County side to face Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

The Rams booked their place in this stage of the competition following victories against Oldham Athletic, Hull City and Manchester United.

It was the victory at Old Trafford which caught the headlines as Lampard beat his former mentor Jose Mourinho, whilst this time around, the Derby boss will go back to the place he called home for many years.

“It’s an honour to manage Derby County Football Club, that’s for sure,” Lampard told RamsTV. “I’m loving doing this and working with the players and staff and the opportunity to go back to Chelsea is a special one for me on all fronts.

“I want us to be going there regularly every season, that’s the aim at Derby, but this is part of a process here. We went to Old Trafford and showed what we can do so all I ask is that we do the same and give a good account of ourselves.

“I see it as another game that we prepare for, where we are professional, and we want to win. The league is hugely important for us at the minute and this is sandwiched between a different period of games for us, but we focus on Chelsea, getting through to the next round, and our performance, because all we can control.”

After spending most of his playing career in West London, Lampard made the switch to Manchester City in 2014.

He would go on to play against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge during the 2014/15 season, but admits it will be a different feeling going into Wednesday’s game.

“It will be different as a manager because of the different nature of the job,” he said. “This is a new career path for me. As a player it was difficult. I was nervous but I enjoyed it, but I’m not sure I did enjoy it.

“It was one of those weird ones but as a manager I can go back as a different feeling. It will always be a home for me. We had 13 years of success and I’m so thankful to the club and the fans and everyone who helped me personally along the way.

“I want to enjoy it more than I did as a player because I can suck in the feeling and meet people that I’ve known for years who are the heartbeat of the club.”

Two players who will be allowed to play against their parent club are defender Fikayo Tomori and midfielder Mason Mount.

The pair have been granted permission by Chelsea to play in the game and the manager is grateful to Maurizio Sarri and the Chelsea staff.

“They, and I, should thank Chelsea for that. I think Chelsea saw the big picture and that was their personal development,” he commented. “The opportunity to play at Stamford Bridge is great for them and they would have been devasted not to so I’m pleased for them but they need to perform.

“It’s a great night for them but also a great night for myself, Jody Morris and Chris Jones who have also been there for long periods but we are there to do business.”