Lampard heaps the praise on rival boss for the impact he has had on his career

Lampard claims Carlo Ancelotti is one of the biggest influences on his managerial career

Talking in the pre-match interview of the game against Everton (h/t Sky Sports), Chelsea manager Frank Lampard praised Carlo Ancelotti and revealed that the Italian has been one of the biggest influences in his short managerial career.

Chelsea travel to Goodison Park at the weekend to take on Everton in the Premier League.

Everton are led by legendary Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti, who took over as the club’s manager in December 2019.

The Toffees boss spent almost two years at Stamford Bridge when he was the Chelsea manager from 2009 to 2011.

Frank Lampard was a player for the Blues during that time, and he won the FA Cup and Premier League double at Chelsea alongside Ancelotti, along with a Community Shield in 2009. (h/t Sky Sports)

Funnily enough, it was a 1-0 loss against Everton on the last day of the 2010/11 season that was the final nail in the coffin for Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard made it clear that he would “never try and take something off someone” but heaped praise on Ancelotti when asked if he was influenced in any way by the former Blues boss.

“I’ve been influenced by people and I was influenced by him as a player and as a man at the time. As I say, he influenced me and I very much at all times look forward to seeing him and speaking to him.”

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Chelsea now sit just two points behind league leaders Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, losing just one game within regular time over the course of the season.

Chelsea play before Spurs and Liverpool this weekend and could temporarily go top of the table if they manage to beat an Everton side who have just one win in their last 7 games in all competitions.