New Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has revealed that he didn’t speak with Roman Abramovich in the run up to him being put in charge at Stamford Bridge.
Those who haven’t been paying attention over the past few years will have thought that Abramovich is the man who would have the most involvement in matters of this kind.
After all, it seems bizarre that he would not so much as have a conversation with a club legend who was poised to return to the club as manager.
However, it’s no longer Abramovich’s responsibility to involve himself, with close ally Marina Granovskaia pulling the strings behind the scenes for several years now.
Marina’s influence has been reaffirmed by Lampard in his opening press conference, with him being quoted by ESPN revealing he’s yet to chat to Roman:
“I haven’t spoken to him at the minute. I have spoken a lot to Marina. We have spoken in detail and in depth because it is about how I want to work with the club and how they want me to work with them.”
However, Lampard did go on to note that he will be able to chat to the Russian oligarch at some point during Chelsea’s upcoming pre-season campaign, as ESPN report:
“I will be speaking with the owner in preseason. I know he is a busy man and I know he is a very private man and I respect that completely so it won’t be one where I come out explaining what has been said.”
This puts to bed once and for all any suggestions that Lampard has been offered assurances by Abramovich. He’s being treated like any other manager – and rightly so.
