Former Chelsea captain John Terry believes there is "no one better equipped" than old teammate Frank Lampard to become the next manager at the Premier League club.
Chelsea are in the market for a new manager after allowing Maurizio Sarri to leave after one season to return to Italy with Juventus.
Lampard looks set to fill the vacancy after his club, Derby County, gave their permission on Tuesday to allow the former England midfielder to hold talks with the club where he earned legendary status as a player.
Lampard, along with Terry, won a treasure trove of trophies including three Premier League titles and the 2012 Champions League, and became Chelsea's all-time record goalscorer.
Terry told the Daily Mail it is not because of their close friendship he believes Lampard will succeed in difficult circumstances. He believes Lampard has the right stuff to meet the challenges head on.
The thorniest could be the fact that Chelsea cannot replace their star player Eden Hazard, who signed for Real Madrid, due to a transfer ban, although it is under appeal.
"After the season he has had with Derby and with Chelsea's transfer ban in place, there is no one better equipped than Frank to succeed at Chelsea," said Terry. "It is perfect timing for him and the club."
Terry, who is assistant manager at newly-promoted Premier League side Aston Villa, said Lampard is excellent in dealing with pressure.
"Frank was under pressure to succeed at Chelsea the day he arrived from West Ham and he never hid from that," said Terry. "He revelled in it and went on to become Chelsea's greatest-ever player.
"What made him that player was his desire to drain every ounce out of his body and that of everyone around him in training.
"People would be amazed at his goal return but they just didn't realise how much dedication was put into that and his whole game. He is just as exacting on himself now as a manager."
Terry says that Lampard can use the transfer ban to get the best out of the young players coming through the Chelsea academy.
Sarri was criticised for not playing talented youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi enough and appeared reluctant also to field Ruben Loftus-Cheek, despite the 23-year-old midfielder having caught the eye for England at the 2018 World Cup.
"For some time, perhaps only myself and Ruben Loftus-Cheek had come through the academy to become regulars and that has probably left many young players questioning their future," said Terry. "Callum Hudson-Odoi will be assured he has a big role to play at Chelsea.
"Having Frank in charge and the transfer ban will give young players throughout the academy belief that there is a genuine pathway into Chelsea's first team."
