Chelsea legend Michael Essien says he has been impressed by Frank Lampard’s tenure as Blues boss, despite never envisaging that the former midfielder would go into management.
Lampard – who returned to Stamford Bridge as manager in July 2019 from Derby County – received praise for the way he dealt with Chelsea’s transfer ban last season, guiding the club to a fourth place finish during a campaign in which he was forced to hand debuts to a number of academy graduates.
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This season, though, Lampard has spent big on the likes of Edouard Mendy, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz as well as Hakim Ziyech, among others, to bolster his squad and the signs are that things are finally starting to click, with Saturday’s 3-0 win over Burnley moving Chelsea to within two points of second place Tottenham Hotspur.
Essien knows the expectations that come with playing for Chelsea, having played alongside Lampard during eight trophy laden seasons in London when the Ghana international was a lynchpin in midfield.
The 37-year-old won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup as well as the League Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge and is hopeful that the club will be able to win further silverware under Lampard’s stewardship.
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Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Essien said: “He [Lampard] was one of the leaders [in the dressing room]. I didn’t really see that he would end up becoming a manager. Knowing Frank, he’s very quiet and calm and does his thing.
“I’m not surprised he took on that job. He knows Chelsea very well and it’s very good for him and I wish him all the best.
“Yes [I have been impressed] because Chelsea is not an easy place to go as a manager or player. His first year he was not allowed to make a lot of signings, but he still managed to do well. It’s a big credit to him and hopefully, they will do even better this season.”
After spells in Greece, Indonesia and Azerbaijan in recent years, Essien is now in the process of transitioning to the next phase of his career in football, having accepted his first coaching role with FC Nordsjælland in the Danish Superliga.
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The two-time Premier League winner will work as a player-coach under Nordsjælland head coach Flemming Pederson and will also take part in training to help the squad.
Nordsjælland currently sit in sixth place in the Danish SuperLiga after beating FC Midtylland – who faced Liverpool last week in the Champions League – 4-1 at the weekend and are owned by Ghana’s Right to Dream academy.
As such, Essien is keen to pass on his expertise to the younger members of the club’s squad and views his new role as the first step on the ladder in his bid to become a manager in the future.
Asked how long he had considered a career in coaching, he said: “Not for long. I’m the sort of the person that takes decisions when they come.
“I’ve just started to do my coaching badges and I got a great opportunity to come here. I’m very happy to be here and it’s all about a new transition in my career because I have a lot to give to the young ones.
“I love the game and I’ve always wanted to be in the game so why not [become a manager in the future]? When I was playing if you’d asked me if I was going to be a coach, I would have said no but as time goes on, things start changing.
“I’m enjoying my new role now. It’s very different to be a coach than to be a player. I’ve always been a player, so learning the coaching aspect of the game is very good and it gives me an open mind in terms of the game. I’m learning and enjoying it as well.
“My options are open. The most important thing is to learn the aspects of the game, get the badges and keep my options open and see what happens.”
Essien has worked with a host of top coaches during a glittering career in the game but finished by talking in glowing terms about former boss Jose Mourinho, who is now in charge of Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
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“He [Mourinho] would be the first one for me [in terms of managers I have worked under],” he says.
“He’s a still a great manager. I worked under him and we had a very good relationship, and I had a very good relationship with Ancelotti as well. Those two are very good managers.
“They’ve all played a part in my career and development. It’s great to look back and reflect on what aspects they taught me and I will take that on board [in my coaching career].”
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