Frank Lampard says the turmoil currently surrounding Chelsea would not stop him from signing for the club if he were still playing.
Chelsea have endured a miserable season but are looking to end the campaign on a high after ending a six-game losing streak under Lampard with a 3-1 win at Bournemouth on Saturday.
The win on the south coast was their first since March 11 when Graham Potter was in charge and ended a dismal run that saw the team score just four times in nine games.
Chelsea are 11th in the Premier League table with four games remaining but speaking ahead of Saturday’s visit to Nottingham Forest, Lampard insisted there are “amazing goals” to keep the club going.
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FREE WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Chelsea
The Blues boss was asked in his pre-match press conference: “From the outside, Chelsea look a mess. If you were a big-name player now, at the top of your game, would you sign?”
Lampard is categorical. “I will definitely sign for Chelsea,” he said. “There are many good things about this club. ‘Form is temporary, quality is permanent’ is a good saying.
“I see fantastic intentions to take the club forward. Many big clubs go through this process in one way, shape or form, and the more successful you are, the more headlines you get when you get to that moment .
“As an individual player I would definitely come here because it’s a fantastic club. Sometimes it’s nice to be part of the process that takes a club where you want it to go. I think that’s also an attractive thing . Instead of being parachuted into a place of success.”
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Lampard said he was not aware of any talks about N’Golo Kante’s future at the club but insisted the midfielder could still play a big role in the team going forward.
Lampard likened the current situation to when he first decided to join Chelsea from West Ham in 2001.
“I signed when we were a top-six or top-eight team, and I didn’t know I was going to come out of it with trophies and medals all over the place.
“I have been part of a great process that has seen this club grow into the most successful club of the modern era in the Premier League.
“This is a big football club. No matter what happens in the next six months or two years or three years, it will always be a successful football club. I absolutely believe in that.”
Saturday’s game against Forest will be a chance to end a six-game home winless run in all competitions, with Chelsea having not tasted success at Stamford Bridge since beating Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on March 7.
“If the (home) form is not good since I’ve been here and before that, it’s very normal and human that can add to the nervousness of the players and staff,” Lampard said.
“The only way through that is to dig in and try and do the right things. I’ve been there as a player. That’s what players have to do, it’s simple.
“People will go with them and with that you can be a little bit stronger. We’re obviously striving for that.”
Follow live updates of Chelsea’s match against Nottingham Forest in full Sky Sports’ digital platforms on Saturday; kick-off 3pm.
Chelsea’s remaining games
May 13: Forest of Nottingham (H) – Premier League, kick-off 3pm
May 21: City of Manchester (A) – Premier League, kick-off 4pm
May 25: Manchester United (A) – Premier League, kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports
May 28: Newcastle (H) – Premier League, kick-off 4:30pm
