Frank Lampard return is hire-and-fire Chelsea's chance to do something special

When Maurizio Sarri says that Chelsea has “inferior history” to Juventus, you know what he means.

Those affiliated to Stamford Bridge might want to point out their club has won five ­European trophies — including a ­Champions League — since the Italian champions’ last one. But Juventus would respond by highlighting 35 ­domestic championships ­compared to the Londoners’ six.

Sarri’s comments on being appointed Juve manager earlier this month were obviously not intended to be derogatory to his previous club, and might even have suffered in translation, but the jibe about Chelsea’s past is a familiar one.

You ain’t got no history.

Which is, of course, nonsense.

Chelsea is a grand, old institution, and ­extremely successful in the modern era. Modern history counts, don’t forget.

But, while not always the case, one of the defining factors in a club’s “history” can be the ­existence of a dynasty. Bill Shankly’s 15 years in charge of Liverpool, Sir Alex Ferguson’s 27 at Old ­Trafford, Arsene Wenger’s 22 with Arsenal.

What counts for a dynasty at Chelsea in recent decades is Jose Mourinho’s three years in the mid-noughties.

And that is why the imminent appointment of Frank Lampard is such an exciting prospect.

At least, we all assume it is imminent.

Maybe one of the reasons negotiations are still ongoing is a discussion about how much time Lampard will be given to find his managerial feet at Premier League level. The answer should be: A hell of a lot longer than previous ­incumbents.

Because this is a chance for Chelsea to create something special over these coming years.

Allied to the hiring of someone who lived and breathed the club for 13 years is surely a need to finally turn decisively to an academy that has produced stellar youth teams for so long.

The transfer ban covering this window and January’s one should push them in that direction and part of Lampard’s brief – and assistant and former Chelsea academy coach Jody Morris’ brief – should be to ­create a new culture of club-grown players forming the soul of the first team.

There are good enough footballers there for that to happen. When they have ­recuperated from their injuries, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to name but two.

Yes, there is obviously a need for tangible, short-term ­achievements at a club that has the resources and the modern stature of Chelsea. And expectation from the get-go will be to maintain a top four position in the Premier League.

But when the suggestions coming out of the club are that Lampard will be afforded more patience than predecessors, it hopefully means at least two seasons’ worth of patience. It hopefully means the ­patience to see those promising young players mature into characters of Lampard’s ilk.

And the dynamic ­between Lampard, his backroom staff, with a strong affiliation to the club, and the supporters should be strong enough to tolerate kinks on the learning curve.

Lampard only turned 41 a week ago and has had just one season as a manager with Championship side Derby.

This is a great opportunity for Chelsea to show some patience, show some faith in a fantastic academy and maybe – just maybe – start a dynasty that will eventually end, once and for all, those history jibes.