Frank Lampard doesn't want to be seen as a Jose Mourinho 'clone'

Frank Lampard insists he doesn't want to emulate Jose Mourinho's unique style as Chelsea manr plots to out-wit his old boss in Sunday's crucial clash at Tottenham. Lampard's first Premier League meeting with Mourinho is headline act in a fascinating derby that will determine which of London rivals spends Christmas Day in top four. Spurs manr Mourinho played a key role in Lampard's emergence as one of Chelsea's all-time greats during ir time toger at Stamford Bridge.

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Yet while Mourinho's manrial credentials are well established after winning a host of trophies during his glittering 19-year career, Lampard is still carving out a name for himself in coaching world. former England midfielder is in just his second season as a manr after leaving Championship side Derby to take charge at Chelsea in July. Lampard ackwledges Mourinho was a big influence on him as a player but, w he is in dug-out, he will follow his own path rar than copy Portuguese coach.

Asked to name most important lesson he took from working with Mourinho, Lampard said: "re's t one thing, ; he's obviously a good manr with loads of good attributes.

"But re's t one specific thing I learned working under him, and I wouldn't strive to be a clone or anything.

"I'm happy to go up against Jose; for me to play under him, he was a big influence in my career." Lampard and Mourinho remain on good terms from ir Chelsea days -- Tottenham manr promising a "big hug" when y meet before kick-off and talking of his "love" for 41-year-old.

But that didn't stop student admitting beating his old teacher in such an important game would be a memorable moment.

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'Every point is crucial'

Chelsea were 12 points ahead of Tottenham when Mourinho replaced sacked Mauricio Pochetti in vember. That gap is w down to just three after Mourinho masterminded an immediate Tottenham revival with four wins from his five league games. In contrast, Chelsea are experiencing first major blip of Lampard's reign after four defeats in ir last five league matches.

"To go up against him for Derby against Manchester United last year was a big deal for me. And that still remains," said Lampard in reference to last season's win over Mourinho when y met in League Cup third round.

"I'll always have respect for him. bigger thing is Chelsea-Tottenham, and what that rivalry means to our players and us.

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Lampard won two league titles with Mourinho at Chelsea, but y are manrial peers w and former England star recognises his old boss has a squad capable of denting his ambitions by kcking Blues out of top four. "It should be relatively even when you look at last four years, where Chelsea and Tottenham have been fighting to get into top four. It's always a competitive fixture," Lampard said. Mourinho's impact at Tottenham has surprised some who claimed he was finished as a top manr after his last two jobs with Chelsea and United ended in acrimonious circumstances.

But 56-year-old never doubted his ability to Tottenham back on track and w he wants to underline ir resurgence with a statement win against Chelsea. "When we arrived we were 12 points distance, we were closer to bottom than top," Mourinho said. "But of course we knew where we belong and we knew it was a question of time to leave this awful position and to have an approach. "We kw we can end this year in top four. But this is t just between us and Chelsea. Manchester United are involved, Wolves are involved. Every point is crucial." 

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