Ahead of Sunday’s North London derby, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has admitted that he still has respect for his former boss Jose Mourinho despite a touchline row that ensued between the duo in September.
The two managers had an argument during a League Cup that saw Mourinho’s side defeat the Blues 5 – 4 on penalties.
Last year, Mourinho suggested Lampard had used former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte’s tactics to beat Spurs in the league.
However, Lampard, who won two Premier League titles under Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, played down the incidents and said the Portuguese was still a top manager.
“You don’t get a record as decorated as Jose Mourinho has as a manager without being a very talented coach,” he said on Friday. “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 manager.”
Lampard, responding to Mourinho’s claim said he was not surprised by anything management threw at him.
“I’ve got respect for Jose as a manager and I think that’s just how it is,” he said. “I didn’t take any offence to the talk of Antonio Conte’s system or whatever.” Jose can have his opinions and it’s not a problem,” he added. “I’ve got respect for him and it’s nothing contentious for me.”
While Lampard eyes another victory over Mourinho’s Tottenham on Sunday, the fixture would mark Chelsea’s 1000th game since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
From that period till date, the Blues have won five Premier League titles, one Champions League, two Europa Leagues, five FA Cups and three League Cups.
