Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel explains secret Frank Lampard conversation with board

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Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has started his tenure extremely well in west London – although he does feel sorrow for the way in which Frank Lampard departed before him.

Tuchel joined the Blues back in January, after a run of just two wins in nine league games saw club legend Lampard given the axe at Stamford Bridge.

Tuchel, who has previously managed Mainz, Borussia Dortmund and most recently Paris Saint-Germain, has been an instant hit for the Blues’ faithful.

The German was sacked from PSG after some poor results – despite reaching the Champions League final the previous season – and found Chelsea making him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Joining when the club were in eighth and ultimately in free fall, the 47-year-old masterminded a fourth place finish and, of course, a Champions League title.

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However, having come into the club to replace Lampard – who is the club’s all-time top goalscorer and has made the fourth most appearances – Tuchel understood the severity of the job he was taking.

More than likely aware of the managerial merry-go-round that has become prominent at Stamford Bridge in recent years, Tuchel felt sorry for the way in which Lampard was sacked.

With fans having to endure the sacking of a club legend, Tuchel was almost seen as the bad guy who succeeded him – and according to him, he mentioned as much to the Chelsea board.

“I actually said to the board in the first phone call. Are you sure? They will not like you and maybe he [Lampard] deserves more time,” he told Sky Sports.

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“When I think about Chelsea, I think of Lampard, John Terry, Petr Cech, Didier Drogba, I think about him in the very first moment, and he is everything what Chelsea stands for – hard-work, aggressive, a leader – but at the same time a normal guy.

“But I clearly understood that the choice was made and the chance was take it or leave it.

“I’m in a top club and what I experienced from day one was a fantastic support in the club. Super organised, a lot of top quality support and a strong group on the field which was a pleasure to work every day with and it’s like this since day one.”

Tuchel’s season has got off to a magnificent start following the win over Villarreal in the UEFA Super Cup.

And having beaten Crystal Palace 3-0 on the opening day of the season, Tuchel will look to go one better on Sunday afternoon in another London derby.

The Blues’ face Arsenal, who lost their own London fixture last weekend at Brentford, and will look to pile on the misery for under-fire Mikel Arteta.

And with new £97.5million signing Romelu Lukaku set to make his second debut for Chelsea, it could plunge the Spaniard into further job uncertainty.

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