Chelsea vs Derby: On his return home, Frank Lampard showed why he's a manager to watch

There were enough signs from the night, though, to suggest that it won't be too long until he's back to the top level

After so many songs and cheers for him, there was still another smile to come from Frank Lampard, albeit a wryer one. The Derby County manager had argued that VAR should have ruled out Chelsea’s winning goal in their League Cup fourth-round tie for what was a foul in the build-up, only to be asked whether he could now understand the regular complaints he would have heard during his playing career that big teams always get the decisions.

“No,” he answered immediately. It was initially entirely in a deadpan way, but he couldn’t stop himself breaking into laughter.

It wasn’t the only ironic twist to the situation, mind. It was of course one of Lampard’s most famous moments – not, crucially, one of his most famous goals – that played a huge part in the path to VAR, and the general use of technology for such decisions. His shot for England against Germany in the 2010 World Cup second round would have stood had such equipment been in use at the time, and it was constantly part of the discussion until the introductions of the systems over the past few years.

It was perhaps no surprise then that he declared himself “a fan of VAR”, but he could still find some fault with it.

“The fourth official said it was off the pitch,” Lampard said when asked about Cesc Fabregas’ winner. “The VAR looked at it. I’ve looked at it and the ball wasn’t off the pitch, the foul wasn’t off the pitch, so it was blatantly a foul. I turned round thinking we’d got the foul, then looked back and they were in our box. VAR should clear up the ones that go slightly wrong. It didn’t tonight.”

It would have been all the more frustrating because Derby had given such a good account of themselves. Lampard was particularly proud about how they twice came from behind, given his own experience of how often sides – and not just lower-league sides – fold when they go 1-0 behind at Stamford Bridge.

He even argued they were the better team, and not without some justification.

“We competed. We certainly competed. Generally teams that go 1-0 down after five minutes lose comfortably here. We came back. And then another own goal. We came back. Then their third goal was a foul. In general play, we had the better chances in the game. Outstanding from my team. I’m proud of them. It doesn’t feel like a defeat, but it’s a benchmark for how we want to play from now on in.”

There were, again, real signs of promise in that regard. A Lampard team looks like an adventurous one, willing to take chances, but also an assertive one. They will be entertaining to watch.

Lampard admitted it was often a strange night, especially as the name of a visiting manager was so often – and so vigorously – sung from all corners of the ground right through the game.

He did make pointed mention of how he left through the “back door”, having been jettisoned by former mentor Jose Mourinho at the end of the 2013-14 season. All of this almost felt like recompense for that, a proper way to acknowledge that farewell – but as he said hello again.

Frank Lampard issues instructions from the sidelines at Stamford Bridge (Getty)

“I’ve got a job to do. I really appreciate the fans, and saying thank you at the end. That isn’t normal. I did leave out of the back door here, and that was disappointing. But I walked in the front door here and got that. I thanked the fans for their support of 13 years, and then walked down to the Derby fans, my present. We’re working hard to be successful as a club. I’m a lucky man to get it both ends.

“It was exciting for me. Nervous and excited. It is home. Not my current home, but my home for such a long time. I’ve been happy to come back and see a lot of friends. My overriding feeling is thanks to the fans of both clubs, and pride in the team.”

He now knows what it’s like from the other side of things, in more ways than one.

There were enough signs from the night, though, to suggest that it won’t be too long until he’s back to this level.