.Derby County manager Frank Lampard insists he will not celebrate if his side score – or even win – against old club Chelsea when they meet in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
The Rams, who are unbeaten in six games and currently occupy a play-off spot in the Championship table, knocked Manchester United out in the last round thanks to a penalty shootout victory at Old Trafford.
Now Lampard returns to the club where he spent 13 years as a player, winning multiple honours, and he says it will be easy to keep his emotions in check.
Asked if he will show restraint if Derby score, Lampard said: ‘It will be easy to do that because I respect the club. ‘When I scored against them [for Manchester City in 2014], I didn’t celebrate and I wouldn’t have done in a million years.
‘I respect Chelsea, but I don’t think anyone expects me to sit here and say, “I don’t want to beat Chelsea.
”’ Lampard has brought a more attacking style of football to Derby since taking over, though he has emphasised the need to work hard defensively if they want to beat Chelsea.
He continued: ‘If we don’t work hard, we will lose. [In a video analysis session] after the West Brom game, I didn’t show the players the four goals we scored.
‘I showed them how much we won the ball back, because everyone collectively sprinted back, sprinted after the ball and sprinted everywhere.
I get more enjoyment out of that than I did for Harry Wilson’s free kick against Manchester United.’