The final two domestic games of the season will determine just how much of a success Lampard's maiden campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge will be viewed. If his team can avoid defeat in today's Premier League finale against Wolves, they will secure a top-four finish and Champions League qualification, against the pre-season expectations of many observers.

Six days later, it's back to Wembley for the FA Cup final against Arsenal and an opportunity to end the campaign with silverware. Lampard does not believe that the past 12 months of work can be judged on these next two fixtures but he also accepts they will play a part in the narrative.

'I much prefer other people to talk about that and I'm sure plenty will,' said the boss. 'I don't feel like it absolutely depends on what happens in the next week because some things are slightly out of control when it comes down to one-off games.

'Some of the strides we’ve made generally as a team, how we look forward to next year and how our summer window may be, hopefully there will be really positive things to come. All I’ve done is worked to try and get us into this position now so let’s hope we do get the right results in the next two games.

'If we do then I think I will certainly be very happy because I know I’ve given everything I can to this job this year. That’s all I can ask of myself really, and to always try and improve as I go forward.'

Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech are the two players to have already been added to the squad for next season, although shoring up a defence that has conceded 54 Premier League goals this season also remains a priority for Lampard. However, he doesn't feel rearguard improvements have to come at the cost of attacking freedom, citing the need to strike the right balance in the team's play.

'I don’t think the things we need to do will necessarily affect our attacking threat,' he continued. 'You can have both but it takes work and time and the balance of the team. Obviously I came into this year with a transfer ban and a lot of work to do, some younger players in certain positions within the team and we just had to work.

'We have worked very hard. I cannot say that anything that’s happened has not been for the want of trying of every member of the squad and the staff in terms of how they work on the training ground but of course as a team you want to develop.

'I’ve seen other teams who’ve gone on to be very successful have periods where there are some parts that don’t fit into place, no matter how hard you work. We’re certainly in the process of working towards something. It may be now we look at how we recruit going forward because we always want to improve at a club like Chelsea and then of course I’ll hope to see the results in all parts of the team.'