Chelsea on Monday confirmed that they have sacked head coach Frank Lampard after the team incurred five losses in their last eight Premier League games.
Lampard was named the head coach of Chelsea in July 2019, guiding the team to 28 wins in 57 league matches with 11 draws and 18 defeats. Last summer, he spent £200m to rope in several players including Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. His position came under the radar after a string of losses which placed Chelsea out of contention for the Champions League.
Chelsea said in a statement: “This has been a very difficult decision, and not one that the owner and the board have taken lightly. We are grateful to Frank for what he has achieved in his time as head coach of the club. However, recent results and performances have not met the club’s expectations, leaving the club mid-table without any clear path to sustained improvement.
“There can never be a good time to part ways with a club legend such as Frank, but after lengthy deliberation and consideration it was decided a change is needed now to give the club time to improve performances and results this season.”
Chelsea did manage a 14-game unbeaten record across two months from early October, but since then their performance nosedived with the Leicester City loss being the final nail in the coffin. They did defeat Luton City 3-1 in FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, but the performance wasn't enough for Lampard to keep his job with Champions League qualification given the highest priority.
The Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich said, “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’.
“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.
“On behalf of everyone at the Club, the Board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as Head Coach and wish him every success in the future. He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.”
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel, the former PSG boss, is reportedly set to be announced as the new head coach of Chelsea. Under him, PSG won the French league twice and reached the Champions League final in 2020. He also won the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund which he managed for two seasons.
