Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has given his advice to Frank Lampard as he prepares to return to the Stamford Bridge dugout for the first time since he was sacked by Everton in January.
Lampard, who played under Mourinho at Chelsea and won three Premier League titles with him, was appointed as the new interim boss of the Blues on Thursday, following the dismissal of Thomas Tuchel.
The 43-year-old will take charge of his first game on Saturday afternoon, when Chelsea host Wolves in a crucial clash for their top-four hopes.
Mourinho, who is now in charge of Roma, said he was happy for Lampard and wished him well in his second spell at Chelsea.
“I’m very happy for him,” Mourinho told Sky Sports. “He’s a friend, he’s a former player of mine, he’s a legend of the club. He deserves this opportunity.”
Mourinho also said that Lampard should not feel any pressure or fear of failure, but rather enjoy the challenge and the privilege of managing one of the biggest clubs in the world.
“My advice to him is very simple: enjoy,” Mourinho said. “Don’t be afraid of anything. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Don’t be afraid of being criticised. Don’t be afraid of losing matches. Just enjoy.”
Mourinho added that Lampard has a talented squad at his disposal and that he should trust his instincts and his experience as a player and a coach.
“He has a very good team, he has very good players,” Mourinho said. “He knows the club, he knows the culture, he knows what the fans expect. He has everything to do a good job.”
Mourinho also said that he hopes to face Lampard again in the Champions League next season, if both Roma and Chelsea qualify for the competition.
“I hope to see him soon in Europe,” Mourinho said. “I hope we can both be in the Champions League next year and maybe play against each other. That would be fantastic.”