Derby County manager Frank Lampard has distanced himself from a potential return to Chelsea as speculation continues overMaurizio Sarri’s tenure.
After being subjected to a 6-0 demolition by Manchester City , their third defeat in five Premier League games, Sarri’s side have slipped out of the top-four, below both Manchester United and Arsenal.
After the game, Sarri seemed to stoke the fire over his potential dismissal by suggesting that club owner Roman Abramovich had never spoken to him and that he would welcome a meeting with the Russian.
Speaking ahead of Derby’s visit to Ipswich on Wednesday evening, Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer admitted that he was shocked by the result, but insisted that his only focus was continuing Derby’s push for a playoff place in the Championship.
“It’s certainly a club I respect and a manager that I respect so it wouldn’t make me smile or anything different because my job is here,” Lampard said.
“I’m working very hard and my whole thoughts are with Ipswich Town away on Wednesday, and travelling down to Brighton in the FA Cup [fifth round] at the weekend.”
The Rams are currently seventh in the Championship and haven’t suffered defeat since the controversial ‘spygate’ game against Leeds on 11 January.
“It’s not nice and it doesn’t happen to Chelsea much, so when it does it’s a shock,” Lampard continued.
“With all top teams, the important thing is that you come back strong, no matter what type of defeat. It is what makes top teams, resilience, and Chelsea as a club will have it.”