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Frank Lampard took so long to accept Chelsea job because of Massimiliano Allegri - Merson
FRANK LAMPARD took longer than expected to accept the Chelsea job because he wanted assurances he would not be a stop-gap for a more experienced manager.
That is the opinion of Chelsea fan and former Arsenal star Paul Merson.
Lampard was announced as the new Blues head coach on Thursday, signing a three-year deal.
The former midfielder was the overwhelming favourite to get the job after Maurizio Sarri left the club for Juventus on June 16.
But it took almost three weeks for a deal to get done between Chelsea, Lampard and Derby.
I think Frank’s sort of said: ‘I’ve come in, don’t bring me in as a stop-gap for someone like Allegri'
Former Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri was also a reported managerial target of Chelsea but the Italian is set to take a year out from the game.
And Merson reckons Lampard took his time as he wanted to make sure Chelsea wanted him long term, rather than appointing him until Allegri made himself available again.
“I think this is why this has taken a long time for this to be done,” Merson said on the Transfer Talk podcast.
“Everybody would have thought when Frank was talking to Chelsea it was going to take two minutes and it never took two minutes.
“I quite like that, I think Frank’s sort of said: ‘I’ve come in, don’t bring me in as a stop-gap for someone like Allegri who’s taking a year out and then all of a sudden I’ve just steadied the ship’.”
Lampard is unable to spend in his first two windows as Chelsea boss due to the club’s current transfer ban.
Many feel it is a good time for him to blood some youngsters from the impressive academy.
But Merson has warned those players they have a tough task taking the place of some experienced players in the Chelsea first team.
“[Lampard] said it in his [press] conference, these players have got to be good enough to come and train with the first team,” he continued.
“When they come and train with the first team then they’ve got to be good enough to take their place. That’s a big ask.
“This is Chelsea, they’ve got international footballers.
“These young kids, no disrespect, they’re not at Bournemouth where there’s not a lot between them.
“They’ve got to take top, top players’ positions which is not an easy task.”