Pochettino makes Chelsea decision for Brentford clash at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea news: The Blues are close to appointing Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager, but first take on Brentford at Stamford Bridge in the first of their seven remaining Premier League games

Despite being favourite to become the new Chelsea boss, Mauricio Pochettino will not be in attendance as his potential new team face Brentford on Wednesday night, football.london understands.

Unlike Lampard, who was in attendance for Chelsea's game against Liverpool last week in a period between Graham Potter's sacking and his own appointment, Pochettino isn't expected to be sitting in the stands at SW6 for this game.

Despite this, Lampard wasn't being drawn into the speculation. "I'm not going to get involved in any future manager talk," he said ahead of the game at SW6. "It's all speculation like you say, it's simple as that."

Chelsea have just seven games left including the visit of Thomas Frank's Brentford and are still lingering in mid-table. Even with no European competition or domestic cup to fight for at this stage of the season Lampard doesn't see it as a right off.

"I don't have a mentality that there's nothing to play for," he said. "You won't compete absolutely every season. It comes down to personal pride and responsibility. The run-in is really tough, so my interest is to see how the players react to that."

Chelsea have so far lost all four of their games under the 44-year-old and are winless in seven outside of that.