Julen Lopetegui makes emphatic Frank Lampard comment after beating Chelsea

Julen Lopetegui emphasised his respect for head coach counterpart Frank Lampard after Wolves undid Chelsea to earn a vital three points in the push for Premier League survival. It was a tricky return to the dugout for Lampard as the Wanderers were far more aggressive and deserved their 1-0 win on the day.

The Blues were well below par at Molineux and a flurry of chances in the closing stages was too little too late. Wolves moved four points clear of the drop with a well-earned victory, moving to within one place of the fallen Chelsea who suffered yet another confidence knock ahead of the Champions League tie at Real Madrid.

That didn’t stop Lopetegui from offering support to Lampard, though, as the Spaniard made a point to celebrate the legendary midfielder’s return to coaching. “I have big respect for Frank and I congratulate him for the challenge,” Lopetegui said after the game. “I think he deserves the best.”

Well-wishes are very much on the agenda for Lampard, then, but the Chelsea manager will need a better response from his players if they are to end the season on a high. Wolves, meanwhile, have now moved one huge step closer to retaining their Premier League status for another campaign.