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Monday 29 October 2018 16:53, UK
Frank Lampard is looking forward to being reunited with "40,000 friends" when he makes an emotional return to Chelsea as manager of Derby County in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Derby progressed to the fourth round with victory over Jose Mourinho's Manchester United last month and were rewarded with a tie against the club where Lampard spent 13 years of his playing career.
The former England midfielder became Chelsea's leading scorer with 211 goals for the club and holds legendary status at Stamford Bridge.
"Well I'm preparing. I'm working hard, that's my job - to try and prepare us to give as good an account of ourselves as we can," Lampard said.
"The bond I have with the fans and people behind the scenes there - it's a special draw for me to be able to go back and see people behind the scenes and see 40,000-plus friends in the stadium.
"I'm more emotional as I've got older, I think. You know these things catch you because you realise in life what an important part Chelsea was in my life, how important it was and what I owe for that in terms of thanks."
Chelsea youngsters Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori, who are on loan at Derby, will be allowed to play against their parent club on Wednesday in a show of goodwill from the decision makers at Stamford Bridge.
Having hired new managers in Lampard and Maurizio Sarri over the summer, both clubs have made strong starts to the season and are in title contention three months into their respective campaigns.
With both managers having implemented significant tactical changes, Lampard has increased admiration for the impressive unbeaten Premier League start Sarri has made at Chelsea and thinks his old side can win the title.
"Sarri is very impressive and I can feel it here because the staff here, everybody, the players have worked very hard from the start of pre-season to change certain things, as managers tend to do when they come in and I know the work that has to go in to try and make those changes," Lampard said.
"Yeah I do (think Chelsea can win the Premier League). I see them in a mix of teams who are very strong up there. Man City we all know, Liverpool we know are strong, Tottenham are very strong but Chelsea are certainly in with a shout.
"With Eden Hazard in the form that he's been in at the start of the season, they've got an absolutely outstanding player in world football at the moment in their team"
