• Maurizio Sarri, August 2018. The Italian's roller coaster 12 months in charge at Stamford Bridge began in serene fashion. His side cruised to an emphatic 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town in his opening Premier League match, with N'Golo Kante, Jorginho from the penalty spot and Pedro accounting for the goals. Getty
    Maurizio Sarri, August 2018. The Italian's roller coaster 12 months in charge at Stamford Bridge began in serene fashion. His side cruised to an emphatic 3-0 win at Huddersfield Town in his opening Premier League match, with N'Golo Kante, Jorginho from the penalty spot and Pedro accounting for the goals. Getty
  • Antonio Conte, August 2016. Conte was made to sweat before he was victorious in his opening league game at Chelsea. Eden Hazard's penalty had put the Blues ahead against West Ham United, but their London visitors equalised 13 minutes from time through James Collins. But Diego Costa, with who Conte would have a volatile relationship, struck a minute from time to seal a 2-1 home win. Getty
    Antonio Conte, August 2016. Conte was made to sweat before he was victorious in his opening league game at Chelsea. Eden Hazard's penalty had put the Blues ahead against West Ham United, but their London visitors equalised 13 minutes from time through James Collins. But Diego Costa, with who Conte would have a volatile relationship, struck a minute from time to seal a 2-1 home win. Getty
  • Guus Hiddink, December 2015. Hiddink's second caretaker role, his first being in 2009, started off well as Sunderland were beaten 3-1 at home. Chelsea had won only one of their previous seven league games, but there was no struggles on show here against relegation-threatened Sunderland. Branislav Ivanovic scored after five minutes, with Pedro and an Oscar penalty completing the scoring. Getty
    Guus Hiddink, December 2015. Hiddink's second caretaker role, his first being in 2009, started off well as Sunderland were beaten 3-1 at home. Chelsea had won only one of their previous seven league games, but there was no struggles on show here against relegation-threatened Sunderland. Branislav Ivanovic scored after five minutes, with Pedro and an Oscar penalty completing the scoring. Getty
  • Jose Mourinho, August 2013. Mourinho had enjoyed a successful first spell in charge of Chelsea and he started off his second reign in winning fashion in August 2013. Newly promoted Hull City were comfortably beaten 2-0 at home, with first-half strikes from Oscar and Frank Lampard ensuring a comfortable day at the office. Getty
    Jose Mourinho, August 2013. Mourinho had enjoyed a successful first spell in charge of Chelsea and he started off his second reign in winning fashion in August 2013. Newly promoted Hull City were comfortably beaten 2-0 at home, with first-half strikes from Oscar and Frank Lampard ensuring a comfortable day at the office. Getty
  • Rafael Benitez, November 2012. The Spaniard had been a surprise choice to replace Roberto Di Matteo in an interim role, given his history as Liverpool manager and the rivalry he had with the London club during that time. Benitez would win over the Chelsea fans but his first game in charge was a home goalless draw with Manchester City. Getty
    Rafael Benitez, November 2012. The Spaniard had been a surprise choice to replace Roberto Di Matteo in an interim role, given his history as Liverpool manager and the rivalry he had with the London club during that time. Benitez would win over the Chelsea fans but his first game in charge was a home goalless draw with Manchester City. Getty
  • Roberto Di Matteo, March 2012. It would be for guiding Chelsea to their lone Uefa Champions League success in May 2012 that Di Matteo would be remembered. But he began life as manager, initially in a caretaker role, with a 1-0 win over Stoke City, with Didier Drogba's second-half strike proving the difference maker. Getty
    Roberto Di Matteo, March 2012. It would be for guiding Chelsea to their lone Uefa Champions League success in May 2012 that Di Matteo would be remembered. But he began life as manager, initially in a caretaker role, with a 1-0 win over Stoke City, with Didier Drogba's second-half strike proving the difference maker. Getty
  • Andre Villas-Boas, August 2011. There had been much hype over the arrival of Villas-Boas as manager. Perhaps in keeping with the tenure of the Portuguese, his first game was an underwhelming goalless draw at Stoke City and he would be fired six months later. Getty
    Andre Villas-Boas, August 2011. There had been much hype over the arrival of Villas-Boas as manager. Perhaps in keeping with the tenure of the Portuguese, his first game was an underwhelming goalless draw at Stoke City and he would be fired six months later. Getty
  • Carlo Ancelotti, August 2009. Ancelotti's two-year stint in charge at Chelsea began with a last-gasp 2-1 win at home to Hull City. Hull had caused a surprise by taking the lead, before Drogba levelled and then struck a stoppage-time winner. Chelsea would win their first six league games under Ancelotti and win the title in his first season. Getty
    Carlo Ancelotti, August 2009. Ancelotti's two-year stint in charge at Chelsea began with a last-gasp 2-1 win at home to Hull City. Hull had caused a surprise by taking the lead, before Drogba levelled and then struck a stoppage-time winner. Chelsea would win their first six league games under Ancelotti and win the title in his first season. Getty
  • Guus Hiddink, February 2009. Hiddink's first interim stint began after the mid-season sacking of Felipe Scolari with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa. In a forgettable match, Nicolas Anelka's 19th-minute winner proved to be difference between the two sides, and the Dutchman would go on to galvanise the side to win the FA Cup in May. Getty
    Guus Hiddink, February 2009. Hiddink's first interim stint began after the mid-season sacking of Felipe Scolari with a 1-0 win at Aston Villa. In a forgettable match, Nicolas Anelka's 19th-minute winner proved to be difference between the two sides, and the Dutchman would go on to galvanise the side to win the FA Cup in May. Getty
  • Felipe Scolari, August 2008. Things began very well for the man who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup when he became Chelsea manager. Portsmouth were thrashed 4-0 at home, with Joe Cole, Anelka, Lampard and Deco all on target. But it would go wrong very quickly for the Brazilian and he was gone by the following February from the role. Getty
    Felipe Scolari, August 2008. Things began very well for the man who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup when he became Chelsea manager. Portsmouth were thrashed 4-0 at home, with Joe Cole, Anelka, Lampard and Deco all on target. But it would go wrong very quickly for the Brazilian and he was gone by the following February from the role. Getty
  • Avram Grant, September 2007. Took over after shock exit of Mourinho. As opening games go, Manchester United away under Sir Alex Ferguson, was as tough as they come and Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by United at Old Trafford. Getty
    Avram Grant, September 2007. Took over after shock exit of Mourinho. As opening games go, Manchester United away under Sir Alex Ferguson, was as tough as they come and Chelsea were beaten 2-0 by United at Old Trafford. Getty
  • Jose Mourinho, August 2004. Like Lampard, Mourinho's first Chelsea Premier League game was against United on the opening day of the 2004/05 season. Lampard will hope to follow in the footsteps of the man he played so many of his Chelsea games under, as the Blues prevailed 1-0 at Stamford Bridge thanks to Eidur Gudjohnsen's early strike. Getty
    Jose Mourinho, August 2004. Like Lampard, Mourinho's first Chelsea Premier League game was against United on the opening day of the 2004/05 season. Lampard will hope to follow in the footsteps of the man he played so many of his Chelsea games under, as the Blues prevailed 1-0 at Stamford Bridge thanks to Eidur Gudjohnsen's early strike. Getty
  • Claudio Ranieri, September 2000. Another manager who started his reign with a match against Manchester United. This ended 3-3, with Chelsea coming from 3-1 down as Tore Andre Flo scored twice, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink having earlier scored. Getty
    Claudio Ranieri, September 2000. Another manager who started his reign with a match against Manchester United. This ended 3-3, with Chelsea coming from 3-1 down as Tore Andre Flo scored twice, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink having earlier scored. Getty

Frank Lampard: I've learnt from Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti but I'll be my own man at Chelsea


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Frank Lampard hopes to emulate Jose Mourinho's successful start as Chelsea manager by securing a positive result against Manchester United.

Lampard takes charge of the Blues in a competitive match for the first time at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Mourinho lifted the Premier League trophy three times across two spells at Stamford Bridge after beginning his initial tenure with a 1-0 home success against United 15 years ago following a goal from Eidur Gudjohnsen.

Former midfielder Lampard, the west London club's record scorer with 211 goals, played in that fixture in August 2004 and is keen for his squad to gain similar early-season momentum.

Frank Lampard is ready to make his mark as Chelsea manager. Reuters
Frank Lampard is ready to make his mark as Chelsea manager. Reuters

"I remember the game, we didn't play particularly well, it wasn't a great game. We won 1-0 and it was a nice start for us because we'd had a good pre-season and all of our standards were lifted by Jose Mourinho," said Lampard.

"It would be great to have that momentum after a first game - it's the same because it's both the same teams we are talking about but it's not the end of the story.

"We're going to a tough place in Old Trafford. The thing with football, and especially the top of the Premier League, is you can lose at those places. But we have to have a bigger picture than that.

"But, yes, of course, if we can get the early momentum by going there and getting a result, it certainly helped in the Jose Mourinho days and it will help us."

Lampard received supportive messages from Mourinho after leaving Derby County to take the Chelsea job last month but has not spoken with his former boss.

The 56-year-old Portuguese has been out of management since being sacked by United in December.

Lampard played under numerous other successful coaches, including Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez, but would not reveal which one was the most influential while stressing his desire to be his own man.

"I have too many experiences with managers that to name one would feel almost be disrespectful to the others," he said.

"What I would say is I can take tips or ideas from all of my managers. I try and be myself through that, I don't try and be a Jose Mourinho or a Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink.

"I try and be myself but with influences from them because some managers are more people managers, some managers are more tactical managers. I think if you strive to try and find that, it's not natural.

"I was fortunate enough to play under a lot and get tips but I'm not going to give you one name."

Lampard will come up against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this weekend. The Norwegian initially succeeded Mourinho on a caretaker basis before being appointed permanently on a three-year contract in late March.

After winning 14 of his opening 17 fixtures in all competitions, former United striker Solskjaer lost eight of the next 12 as his side limped over the line to finish sixth.

Lampard believes criticism of his fellow manager has been slightly unfair but acknowledges working for a high-profile club brings constant scrutiny.

"When you manage a club like Manchester United or Chelsea it comes with the territory," said Lampard.

"It can be excessive, not just for Ole, but for everyone in football. You have to have a thick skin.

"It is possibly harsh as it is something that he came in to and he had a great lift.

"I think it's his real chance to make a stamp on that team with a window and a pre-season behind him.

"And I'm trying to make a stamp here, so it makes for a competitive match.

"It is up to him and it is up to me."

Check out a gallery of how Chelsea's previous 13 managers, from Maurizio Sarri to Claudio Ranieri, fared in their first game in charge. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.