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Derby County manager Frank Lampard.

Lampard cools heightening Chelsea links after Derby's heartbreaking play-off defeat

The Blues legend dismissed speculation surrounding a potential return and insisted he ‘loves’ his role as Derby County manager.

FRANK LAMPARD REFUSED to indulge speculation he could become Chelsea’s new manager following Derby County’s Championship play-off final defeat to Aston Villa.

Blues legend Lampard has been heavily linked with a return to Stamford Bridge to replace Maurizio Sarri, who has been tipped for the Juventus job following Massimiliano Allegri’s surprise departure.

Lampard, whose first season as a manager ended in disappointment with a 2-1 defeat to Villa at Wembley, would not be drawn on the speculation and says he will speak to Rams owner Mel Morris in the coming days about his future.

“I’m not interested in the speculation,” he said. “I’ll sit down with Mel Morris over the next few days. I’ve got a two-year contract and I love working here.

“After my first year and the opportunity this club gave me it’s massively important that everyone understands that is my overriding feeling.

“So that’s where I am. I’ll go away tonight and have a couple of beers with the lads and the staff, and afterwards we’ll talk about where we go forward.”

Following his side’s Wempley defeat, Lampard described his players as “gutted”, but insisted he is proud of what his squad have achieved since he joined the club in May last year.

“They’re gutted because they wanted it so much, as you should,” he said. “But when a group get on as well as they did and when a group have dragged themselves through with youth and players in the last year of their contracts you’ve got a real mixture.

“They’ve managed to get this far and I’m just proud.”

Gavan Casey is joined by Murray Kinsella and Sean Farrell for a review of the 2018/19 season, and cast an eye forward to next year and the Rugby World Cup in Japan.:


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    Mute Gary O'Rourke
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    Mar 7th 2022, 1:55 PM

    Loves Mind games this fella. Hope we batter them, because behind the mind games is a bitter coach who is under massive pressure.

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    Mute Augustus hoop
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    Mar 7th 2022, 5:11 PM

    @Gary O’Rourke: is he under massive pressure? Seems English RFU have accepted that 6 nations results can suffer provided World Cup performance is there. He’s already made one WC final (playing ridiculously well). He isn’t going to be sacked even if they finish bottom half again this year. Also he’s made huge money and his record means he’ll get another job easy if England do let him go.

    On top of that – what he is saying is correct rather than mind games. We are favourites!

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    Mute Ron
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    Mar 7th 2022, 6:59 PM

    @Augustus hoop: Accept for the fact they have gone considerably downhill since he took over in late 15 from Lancaster who let’s be honest built an unbelievable setup. Let’s see how they get on in the next world cup.

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    Mute Augustus hoop
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    Mar 7th 2022, 7:29 PM

    @Ron: they made the World Cup final – completely outplaying New Zealand in the semi – I wouldn’t consider that to be ‘downhill’ from not getting out of the group in 2015!!!? It was a full 4 years after Lancaster had moved on. I think it’s a stretch to be giving Lancaster more credit for it than jones.
    I dont particularly like how the man goes on, but his record of repeatedly managing/coaching teams that peak for world cups and perform better – not just results also performance (Australia, Japan, England and even s Africa when he was no2) – is surely no open to debate!!!?

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    Mute Ron
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    Mar 7th 2022, 9:28 PM

    @Augustus hoop: they made the world cup final 3 years ago in fairness and the lack of expansive rugby they have played since compared to Lancaster era and just after is clear to see. Agree that WC didn’t work out for Lancaster but by the time he left Eng were one the best teams imo. You could see how dangerous they were getting. Also going from 2020 to now it’s clearly a downward trajectory and you can see he knows it. I didn’t question his past coaching achievements.

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    Mute Tyrone Williams
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    Mar 7th 2022, 10:46 PM

    @Gary O’Rourke:
    Such a soccer manager! The game should be played on the field, not in the media!

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    Mute G
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    Mar 7th 2022, 2:06 PM

    Any compliment from him feels backhanded somehow. Waiting for the other shoe to drop

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Mar 7th 2022, 3:52 PM

    @G: His compliments have T’s & C’s.

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    Mute Con Cussed
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    Mar 7th 2022, 2:19 PM

    We’ll have to be extra vigilant then Eddie, won’t we!

    It will be tough and England will have worked out every weakness in our play. I hope it’s a great game. C’mon Ireland!

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    Mute Ro Molloy
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    Mar 7th 2022, 2:51 PM

    They will target us at the breakdown. They way to beat Ireland us to slow down our ball hence the Underhill inclusion. He is a breakdown specialist. It will be interesting to see how Farrell can counter this.

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Mar 7th 2022, 5:11 PM

    According to Eddie have England been favourites for any game in this 6 nations yet?

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    Mute Hear me now
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    Mar 7th 2022, 6:50 PM

    This guy…sly as they come…thinks he is anyway!

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    Mute Darren
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    Mar 7th 2022, 9:01 PM

    Can’t stomach that Jones fella he’s some spiteful ballix who just trys his best to wind up the opposition coaches and players. He has a serious chip on his shoulder with the Irish lads especially. Hope we batter them

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    Mute Gerry McCaughey
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    Mar 7th 2022, 6:20 PM

    In fairness Ireland probably are slight favourites. As someone else said England will target us at the breakdown. The best way to stop us playing is to target us there. But they’ll need to do a much better job than they did last year. I fancy an Ireland win by 10.

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    Mute Ivan O'Riordan
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    Mar 7th 2022, 6:15 PM

    Soft talk from Eddie once again.

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    Mute pat seery
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    Mar 7th 2022, 5:12 PM

    Probably his Last Game in Charge Won’t be Missed

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    Mute Mark Railton
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    Mar 7th 2022, 9:52 PM

    @pat seery: can only hope….

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    Mute Stephen Walshe
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    Mar 7th 2022, 9:38 PM

    No matter what this fella says it calculated for his own interests. Basically he’s saying they’re good why wouldn’t they be, sure they play together week in week out. Always a bitter narrative with him never take him a face value awful bitter.

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    Mute John Madden
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    Mar 7th 2022, 10:25 PM

    He’s playing games again.

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    Mute David Gaffney
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    Mar 8th 2022, 12:25 AM

    For once he seems to have told the truth. Yes, there are always mind games at play with him, but Ireland are and should deservedly be favourites and so what if he says so?! It is also true that his team is a work in progress. That’s obvious. Now all we have to do is prove him right! Wouldn’t that be nice?!

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    Mute Kerrie Roche
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    Mar 8th 2022, 1:41 AM

    Eddie in wrong sport..should be in boxing with all his pre match mind games and fighting talk….

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