Frank
Lampard hopes to extend his Chelsea contract to become part of the
"long-term plan" at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea's record goal-scorer, Lampard returned to west London as manager
last summer and steered the Blues to Champions League qualification and the
FA Cup final in his maiden campaign.
The 42-year-old has overseen a £220m squad rebuild that now has Chelsea
boasting a 15-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
Lampard has admitted he would relish the chance to add to the 18 months left
on his current Chelsea contract.
"In terms of my contract, it seems to have flown by, the time I've been
here," said Lampard.
"It's right I've got 18 months left and I felt it when I came to the club, I
knew there were a lot of circumstances at the beginning that were going to
make last year transitional and maybe slightly difficult.
"I felt like I took the job in a different position to most recent Chelsea
managers. I think people sympathise with that as well and I think it was a
success.
"Now I feel like I would love to be part of the long-term plan here.
"The signings we made in the summer, other than probably Thiago Silva
particularly, were signings for now and the future. Players that are going
to progress and who will mature, and, of course, I would love to be part of
that.
"Of course, that's the club's decision and the owner's decision first and
foremost, so I have to get on with the short-term which starts with Leeds.
"But I don't think anybody would expect me to say anything else.
"I'm a lucky man to be managing the club that I love and is my life. So of
course, I want to make a success of it and be here as long as I can."
Lampard's arrival at Chelsea last summer coincided with the club appointing
his former team-mate Petr Cech to the Stamford Bridge board.
Cech's role as technical director has generated far greater symmetry between
coaching staff and board.
Lampard sees that relationship as a genuine strength for the Blues, but
insisted only owner Roman Abramovich has the right to create a scenario
where one manager could create a dynasty.
Asked if he is the right man to stay at Chelsea's helm for the better part
of a generation, Lampard replied: "That will only ever be decided by the
owner and the only thing I can do is look at what's in front of me and at
the minute - well since I came in here actually - the relationship I have
with Petr has been a huge strength for me because I get on so well with him
and I think, hopefully we work well together.
"The communication I have with (director) Marina Granovskaia is very
regular.
"I try and do all the things I can for the club, for the best of the club on
and off the pitch and I can't get much further than that.
"I said before I would love to do this job as long as possible but I'm also
very aware that that is results based.
"At the minute, I think we're working towards something and people are
getting very excited and mentioning us being in a title race this year.
"I always saw it as a longer plan than that and it might take until next
year for us to really challenge, because of the signings, because of the
bedding-in process.
"What we're doing at the moment, it's really getting people excited, but I
know we need to be consistent over the course of the season.
"I'm genuinely not thinking too much about my future. I'm just thinking
about game to game at the minute.
"I guess the future will look after itself either way after that."
Lampard's former Chelsea team-mate Branislav Ivanovic has this week tipped
the Blues boss as a future England manager.
While Lampard admitted he would one day relish a chance to coach England, he
insisted he remains solely focused on trying to build a long-term future at
Chelsea.
"Firstly, I appreciate Brana's words, he's a good friend so I appreciate the
positive words in there," said Lampard.
"It's certainly not anything that's on my short-term radar. But I'm very
patriotic, I loved playing for my country but, at the moment, I'm focused on
trying to do my best here in a long-term way is all I can think about.
"But I appreciate it and if there was ever an opportunity, later down the
line, it's something I would certainly look at but you should never get too
far down the line in this job."
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