Frank Lampard has admitted Everton’s relegation battle is not on his mind despite managing the club for most of the campaign.
The Toffees were 19th when they decided to part ways with Lampard in January. A 2-0 defeat to West Ham United proved the final straw and Farhad Moshiri acted quickly to appoint Sean Dyche as his replacement.
That loss in the capital was Everton’s 20th top-flight fixture, meaning Lampard - now interim manager at Chelsea - has taken charge for more than half of the campaign. Since then, Dyche has rallied the squad to lift the Blues marginally above the bottom three.
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Former boss Lampard has a chance to do Everton a favour by beating Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge. As the Toffees face a daunting test against Manchester City, a Chelsea win would ease the pressure before going head-to-head with the league leaders.
However, the caretaker manager has told reporters Everton’s fate is “not his concern” despite contributing to their relegation struggle. He said at his pre-match press conference: “Maybe (whether beating Forest would help Everton). Everton’s fate is in their own hands at this point.
“It's not my concern really. I lived that life last year. I have a lot of connection to the club and the year I had there was a really enjoyable time for me.
“But, as much as I will support from afar, it's not really my concern as Chelsea manager. Of course, I hope they get the job done because I know what that feeling is (like).”
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