Chelsea sack Lampard LIVE: Abramovich issues statement as Thomas Tuchel to be appointed new manager
Frank Lampard has been sacked by Chelsea and is set to be replaced by the former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel
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Chelsea have sacked head coach Frank Lampard today, with former Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel set to replace him.
Chelsea defeated Luton Town 3-1 in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Sunday thanks to a Tammy Abraham hat-trick, but it appears that result has not relieved the pressure on Lampard, whose side have underwhelmed in the Premier League this season despite the club having spent £222m on transfers last summer. The Blues brought in striker Timo Werner, midfielders Kai Havertz and Hakim Ziyech, defenders Ben Chilwell and Thiago Silva, as well as goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, but sit ninth in the top-flight table on 29 points – 11 behind leaders Manchester United at the exact midway point of their Premier League campaign.
Former Chelsea midfielder Lampard was appointed head coach at Stamford Bridge ahead of the 2019/20 season following a term as manager at championship side Derby, a role that marked the first senior coaching role of his career. And the 42-year-old’s inexperience at the top level has told this season. Follow live updates below as the news emerges.
THIAGO TRIBUTE
Thiago Silva has had his say on Frank Lampard, writing on Twitter:
TUESDAY TUCHEL ANNOUNCEMENT LIKELY
David Ornstein of The Athletic says that Thomas Tuchel is still in Germany but will be travelling to London over the next 48 hours subject to negative Covid-19 test.
Chelsea are preparing a quarantine situation but they hope he’ll be exempt due to joining an elite sports environment.
A official announcement of his appointment is expected for tomorrow.
WRIGHT-PHILLIPS ‘GUTTED’ OVER LAMPARD SACKING
Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips says he is gutted to see Frank Lampard go, saying:
LAMPARD KNEW THE RISKS
Frank Lampard knew the risks of underperforming as Chelsea manager after the club has had 16 managers during the Roman Abramovich era. Speaking after the Luton game yesterday Lampard said:
I always need results, this is Chelsea. People expect us to get into the next round and they expect a lot in terms of our league position. My job is to see the inside and know the work that we need to do.
"We’ve got a lot of young players who are coming through. Billy Gilmour comes in and I thought he was outstanding, Mason Mount was captain and that’s another part of his progression. People will look very closely at this moment, I try to see the bigger picture. But of course I wanted the result today because it gives a nice air of positivity around us and gets us into the next round.
“We’re still in two cup competitions, Champions League and FA Cup, and we want to win more points in the league.”
LAMPARD’S LEGACY
Frank Lampard took over at Chelsea with the club facing a transfer ban and being forced to rely on their young academy players.
Lampard relished to challenge of bringing on Chelsea’s youth and introducing them into the first team and he was fairly successful.
In his first season in charge of Chelsea Lampard brought a number of academy players into the first team and finished fourth securing Champions League qualification.
Mason Mount has made more appearances under Frank Lampard than any other player (80) and in his last game, Lampard made Mount the youngest Chelsea captain since John Terry.
Another academy graduate, Tammy Abraham, is Lampard's top scorer with 29 goals. Billy Gilmour is another youngster to impress under Lampard.
LONG TIME COMING FOR LAMPARD’S EXIT
Writing was on the wall for Frank Lampard long before Chelsea sacking
Lampard’s Chelsea team never inherited his mean-eyed, relentless mentality as a player. They were too decorative when they needed to be dangerous, and ultimately their manager paid the price
LAMPARD’S SACKING; HOW IT HAPPENED
The inside story on how Chelsea made the decision to sack Lampard
Certain players and higher-ups had their problems with the former Blues midfielder’s approach, and it all came to a head with Lampard’s sacking on Monday
REASONS FOR LAMPARD’S DEPARTURE
Chelsea’s recent form has been poor. Since beating Leeds at the start of December the London side have won just two of their last eight Premier League matches leaving them ninth in the table and five points away from the top four.
As well as recent poor performances The Athletic are reporting tensions behind the scenes between Lampard and some members of the squad who haven’t been playing regularly.
A £222 million spending spree in the summer on Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz Timo Werner, Eduoard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech, meant pressure was on Lampard to get the best out of these new signings which the higher ups at the club think he failed to do.
MORRIS TO LEAVE WITH LAMPARD
More departures as assistant coach Jody Morris is set to leave Chelsea along with Frank Lampard.
CAN TUCHEL SUCCEED AT CHELSEA?
Thomas Tuchel is being widely reportedly as the next Chelsea manager with the sacking of Frank Lampard happening now because Tuchel was available.
Tuchel has time left in the season to turn around Chelsea’s league form but how will he go?
Thomas Tuchel must be more than just a football brain to succeed in the Premier League
The German is set to succeed Frank Lampard as Chelsea manager – can he handle the demands?
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