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Jose Mourinho reckons Frank Lampard can succeed him as Chelsea manager.

The ex-England midfielder is set to line up against his former club on Sunday, for the first time since leaving in the summer for Manchester City.

But the west Londoners' current boss, who won two Premier League titles with Lampard, insisted the 36-year-old's Chelsea legacy is “untouchable”, despite now playing for a title rival.

And Mourinho said he still expected to see Lampard return to Stamford Bridge after his playing career.

“I still believe that what this club proposed to him, which is to be back when he wants and to do what he wants - these were the words from Mr Abramovich - I think it’s not in any danger,” said the Chelsea manager.

“It’s just a period of his career. We thought he was going to play for New York. He decided to play for City . It was just an option, and he had that right to do that. His place in Chelsea’s history is untouchable. I think, in the future, nothing has been lost. He can be back one day, I think so. If he wants to be a manager, he could succeed me.”

(Image: Getty)

Without Lampard, who is on loan at City from the yet-to-begin-play NEw Yor MLS club they own, Mourinho is building a new Chelsea who are playing more attacking, exciting football.

And even though he claimed he is still not happy with his new-look side, he appears to have put a smile on the face of owner Roman Abramovich.

The Blues sit top of the table and can open up an eight-point gap over title rivals Manchester City with a fifth straight Premier League win.

“When I watch television and I see him hugging his young kids after a Chelsea goal, it’s easy to understand it’s a moment of happiness,” said the Portuguese coach. “He’s enjoying it, obviously.

“My feeling is every Chelsea fan - and he’s not just a fan, but the owner - is happy. The team are playing well . The team are getting good results. The draw against Schalke is not a good result, but is not a dramatic result. The way the team plays, everything we are showing on the pitch not just our philosophy but the way the team faces the competition - everything is positive.”

(Image: Clive Rose)

Last season Mourinho repeatedly played down Chelsea’s title hopes with the tortuous “little horse” analogy. This time he knows his squad is at the races.

“I think they (Manchester City) are the same team as last season, no?” he suggested. “We improved. We improved our squad and our team.”

After winning at the City of Manchester Stadium in the league playing counter-attacking football last season, Mourinho reckons his side now also have the players to play a possession game. But he is not satisfied.

“I’m not saying we have problems - we have big space to improve.

I want to make everything better. Everything. I’m not happy with what we have. We must improve in everything. We are in the beginning of our second season. We are far from being the perfect team. Are we better than last season? We believe so. Do we have more potential than before? I believe so. But we still have lots of work to do.”

Mourinho was more careful than playful, insisting City are not their only title rivals and declining to criticise an even richer club for circumventing FFP rules with the loan signing of Lampard.

He was even diplomatic about his old rival Manuel Pellegrini, who he failed to shake hands with at Stamford Bridge last October.

“We don’t spend holidays together,” smiled the Special One. “I’m not inviting him to have dinner at my house, and he doesn’t invite me to have lunch at his. But I respect the person and the manager. I met him in Geneva. Obviously, I gave him my hand. I don’t turn my back, and nor did he. We don’t have personal issues. I will be on the bench. If he comes, at his house (stadium) and gives me his hand, I will give him mine. No problems. Far from problems.”

Mourinho admitted continuing to play Costa was a “risk” with his ongoing hamstring injury but said the Spain striker will start - and then be rested for the Capital One Cup tie against Bolton on Wednesday.