"I'm a manager now, not a Chelsea player" - Frank Lampard refuses to be drawn into taking swipe at Tottenham before Premier League clash

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has praised Tottenham ahead of his visit to North London as the Coventry City manager. He refused to take a dig at Spurs, saying he needs to think as a manager now, and not as a player.

Speaking ontalkSPORT, Lampard said he was keeping tabs on Tottenham ahead of their clash next weekend. He praised Roberto De Zerbi's squad and said it would be a tough match, despite the North London side's poor start to the season.

He said: "It's time to keep our feet on the ground. I watched them yesterday, and I didn't like it.

They're a good team; they're playing well with such a quality squad." When host Sam Matterface tried to get a cheeky comment on Spurs from Lampard, the Chelsea legend quickly said it was a different situation. He stated that playing against them as a player is not the same as facing them as a manager, and said: "Yeah, it's a different era, different days.

I'm not going to make any quips; I'm wise enough to know that it's going to be a very tough football match. I'm a manager now, not a Chelsea player." Frank Lampard played 41 matches against Tottenham in his career, winning 22 times and losing just 8.

He scored 10 goals against Spurs and got 6 assists. Chelsea legend Frank Lampard was linked with Tottenham job Chelsea legend Frank Lampard was linked with the Tottenham job in the summer after his impressive run with Coventry City.

The Englishman was also linked with Crystal Palace as they looked for a new manager, but he opted to stay with the newly promoted side. Arsenal legend Ray Parlour claimed that Lampard would put aside his rivalry as a player with Spurs, and take the job if he found it right and said: "It's a job he couldn't turn down.

If someone went up to him and asked him to be the Tottenham manager, he'd have to take it. Even if they're in a bit of dire straits at the moment."