Darren Bent insists Frank Lampard’s deep-rooted affection for Chelsea isn’t the main motivating factor behind his shock return.
The 46-year-old was confirmed as the club’s interim manager for the rest of the season on Thursday, just four days after the ruthless decision to part company with Graham Potter.
Lampard, who was spotted in the stands on Tuesday as Chelsea played out a goalless draw against Liverpool, immediately set about the task of restoring the feel-good factor yesterday taking training for the first time since his departure two years ago.
The club’s all-time record goalscorer has been out of work since he was sacked by Everton in January following a disastrous run of results that left the Toffees embroiled in a second successive relegation scrap.
And Bent believes the chance to restore his reputation by steadying the Chelsea ship could lead to him making a permanent return at another Premier League club in the summer.
The former England international striker told talkSPORT: ‘I fully understand and respect why Frank would do that (go back). He left Everton and people were saying he’s rubbish, he’s not a good coach, this that and the other.
‘He himself is a proud man, I played with him for England. He thinks if he can go to Chelsea and have a really good end to the season someone else will pick me up.
‘At the end of this season there could be as many as seven jobs available. He’s going to be in the mix for one of them.’
Chelsea are currently 11th in the Premier League but could still end the season with unlikely silverware in Europe should they go all the way in the Champions League, which would leave Todd Bohely in a potentially awkward position.
Bent added: ‘That’s a question Todd Boehly has to answer (if Lampard does well). That’s why sometimes interims backfire because in one respect you think fantastic, he’s won us the Champions League, won us all these games got us to finish in the table very, very well. What do you do now?’
Hiring an interim manager is hardly a new scenario for Chelsea, who won their first Champions League crown under the stewardship of Roberto Di Matteo.
Lampard was still a player at Chelsea when Di Matteo was in temporary charge and was asked yesterday whether the way the Italian handled himself during that period would influence him.
He said: ‘I’ve got real fond and good memories of both managers. In terms of the success under Robbie, the Champions League, I saw how he affected the group and the personal relationships he had and the football instincts he had.
‘In Guus’ own way, similarly, he had a great personal touch, great football brain. So those little things that I remember from those periods, I will try and take them because this is a job that is in hand, it’s in front of me so I’d be stupid not to rely on some things I felt were good but I also have to do things I think are right now.’
MORE : John Terry sends message to Frank Lampard as club legend returns to Chelsea hot seat
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