Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has revealed that he supports the expected appointment of Antonio Conte as the club’s next coach.
The current Italy boss has confirmed that he will leave his post when his contract expires after Euro 2016 this summer, as reported by Football Italia, but as of yet no official announcement has been made regarding the next long-term Chelsea manager.
With Guus Hiddink in charge on an interim basis until the end of the season, the reigning Premier League champions are expected to name their next boss in the coming months.
Lampard, who spent 13 seasons at Stamford Bridge, has been keeping a close eye on his former club and has insisted that he believes Conte is the right man for the job.
“I don’t know him too well but he’s got a great pedigree, a great recent record with Juventus,” Lampard told BT Sport, as reported by ESPN FC.
“I spoke with Andrea Pirlo about him and he has nothing but good words to say about him. I think he’s hard working, he’ll have the players working hard. He has what fans and players like to see, that determination, that will to win.
“It’s a difficult job at Chelsea now considering what’s happened this year, so we’ll see. If it is him, I think he has the pedigree to do it, but the decision has not been made.”
Given his previous success at Juventus and the way in which he likes to see his sides play with intensity and tenacity, Conte appears to be a good fit for the Premier League.
However, as with any foreign coach arriving in the English top flight, he will need an adjustment period before supporters are likely to see all of his ideas and methods get across to the players as the Italian tactician is well known for his tactical flexibility.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to disagree with Lampard’s assessment, and he will be hoping that the move will be confirmed although he could be forced to wait with Conte’s more immediate focus on helping the Azzurri to success in France this summer.