LONDON (UK) – Following a run of five losses in eight league games, which left Chelsea ninth in the Premier League rankings, the club sacked its manager Frank Lampard, the London side said on Monday.
He was instrumental in leading Chelsea to a top-four finish and the FA Cup final in his first 2019-20 campaign. But this season, he failed in getting the best out of his squad although the club spent more than 220 million pounds ($301.11 million) on new talents.
He was shown the door less than 24 hours after Chelsea beat Luton Town 3-1 on Sunday to make it to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
“This was a very difficult decision for the Club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him,” Club owner Roman Abramovich said in a statement.
“He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances we believe it is best to change managers.”
“Reports that Frank Lampard will be sacked by Chelsea today,” tweeted former England international Gary Lineker. “Utterly ludicrous after his first bad run.
“It was always going to need time given so many new signings feeling their way into a new club. Patience being a virtue is seldom recognised in this sport. They never learn.”
The winner of three Premier League titles and the Champions League, Lampard is the club’s record scorer. He is the 12th manager to be sacked by Chelsea ever since it was acquired by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003.
After a stint with Championship club Derby County, Lampard was hired in 2019. He won acclaim last season after inheriting a line-up that could not be bolstered because of a FIFA transfer ban, which was later revoked.
When the pandemic forced most clubs to curb their spending, Chelsea spent more than any other club in England to bring in players such as Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy.
Lampard’s credentials were reinforced by a 17-match unbeaten run in all events as they made it to the Champions League knockout stages as group winners while remaining third in the league.
Midway through December, their form began to erode and they went down the standings after two wins in their past eight league matches.
He also had to struggle hard to get the best out of German forward Werner, while 71 million-pound midfielder Havertz has also struggled to settle in England, especially after his encounter with coronavirus.
There are media reports that former Paris St Germain manager Thomas Tuchel could be the replacement for Lampard.