Latest Chelsea news includes comments from midfielder Mateo Kovacic about Frank Lampard’s first training sessions as Blues head coach last summer

Frank Lampard certainly made quite an impression following his first training session as Chelsea head coach.

The Blues legend returned to Stamford Bridge last summer as he replaced Maurizio Sarri who took over at Serie A giants Juventus after Max Allegri opted to take a year out of the game.

Despite Lampard’s lack of experience, his one season at Derby County – in which he led the Rams to the Championship play-off final – was enough to convince Roman Abramovich that he was the right man for the job.

With the current season suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic, it remains to be seen if the Blues’ gamble to appoint Lampard pays off.

Sitting fourth in the Premier League table as well as in the FA Cup quarter-final would suggest the ex-England international is doing a fine job having signed a single player across two transfer windows.

A transfer ban was already in place prior to his appointment, while the club opted against doing any business in January amid links to the likes of Timo Werner, Jadon Sancho and Moussa Dembele among others.

One player who was able to seal a move to Chelsea before the ban came into effect was midfielder Mateo Kovacic as his loan deal from Real Madrid was made permanent before Lampard was officially appointed.

And the Croatia international was immediately impressed with Lampard’s methods on the training pitch.

“It’s amazing to have such a club legend as our coach and we are really enjoying pre-season so far,” he said. “It’s been tough, training is quite intense, but the work has been good.

“Myself and the other players are enjoying the work though because although the sessions are intense and tough like I said, we also see a lot of the ball which is what we like.

“It’s nice working under the head coach and we are all looking forward to learning from him and making him and the club proud.”

In and out of the team under Sarri 12 months ago, he was one of the first names on the teamsheet prior to the football season coming to a halt.

Having added a few goals to his game, Kovacic is a leading contender to scoop the club’s Player of the Year award at the end of the campaign.