Mikel also slammed Chelsea’s owners in what had been a miserable season for his former club.

“Yeah, I’m very happy, I mean I think the last time he (Lampard) was at the club, he did really well. I think he started really well. He brought the likes of Mason Mount to the club.

“I think if you look at Frank, and if you look at the way he’s been speaking since he came back, I think you can feel maybe there’s a little bit of hope and enthusiasm,” Mikel told Dubai Eye 103.8 Sport earlier in the week.

Mikel expressed worry about how the club owners were making decisions regarding the signing of new players.

“I don’t know if they’re making decisions right, but for me, it just seems like they’re bringing just so many different players, and it’s just not working really,” he said.

Reacting to former club coach Graham Potter’s sacking and his performance at the club, he wondered if the job was too big for him to manage.

“Was the club too big for him to manage? Maybe because when I look at him sometimes on the touchline, it’s like he doesn’t really know what to do … you know, he’s not communicating to the players. He doesn’t tell them what to do on the pitch.

“Was he given enough time? I think so. I think when you look at where the club is now, I mean what is it, 11th? 11th year, seven months. So when you look at it, I mean he’s been given a lot of time,” Mikel said.

Noting Potter was given enough time, he said the club made the right decision.

“He wasn’t a manager who’s always motivated and who wants to be very passionate on the touchline.

“Like a manager telling you what to do sometimes. Players need that. We need a bit of a kick up the backside you know – to be able to wake up.

“I wasn’t seeing that (with Potter),” Mikel added.