Frank Lampard insider slams Chelsea board, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner over sacking

Chelsea: Tuchel reportedly eyed as replacement for Lampard

Frank Lampard shouldn’t have been sacked by Chelsea, according to the 42-year-old’s uncle Harry Redknapp. The Blues opted to part ways with their former midfielder on Monday, just 24 hours after their FA Cup win over Luton Town. And Thomas Tuchel is now poised to rock up at Stamford Bridge as his replacement.

Lampard was hired as Chelsea boss in 2018, replacing Maurizio Sarri after impressing with his work at Championship side Derby County.

He initially did well at Stamford Bridge, steering the Blues to fourth in the Premier League table as well as the FA Cup final last term.

However, Chelsea have struggled of late – winning just two of their last eight matches across all competitions.

They’ve now sacked Lampard as a result, announcing his departure in a statement that read: “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.

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“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.”

And Redknapp, talking to talkSPORT, has slammed the Chelsea hierarchy as well as flop signings Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.

“It’s very disappointing to hear the news this morning,” the former Hammers and Tottenham boss said.

“On the back of a good result, beating Luton in the FA Cup, I thought they’d give him a bit of time.

“I thought [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer was sure to go, no way he was going to survive, but Manchester United gave him a bit of time and suddenly they have a little run and turn it around.

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“Everybody goes through bad spells; Jurgen Klopp is going through one now at Liverpool, Mikel Arteta is going through one at Arsenal as well.

“People need time. Losing four or five games doesn’t suddenly make you a bad manager! Surely you’ve got to have more faith in people rather than giving them that knee-jerk reaction.

“When you look at the players, people say he’s spent all this money, did he bring the players in? Did he bring the Germans in? Management is so different now, managers aren’t always responsible for signing players.

“The recruitment for me in the summer, all the money they spent, I don’t think they spent it well. I’ve not been impressed with the players they’ve brought in apart from Thiago Silva who they brought in on a free transfer, the rest of them there are big question marks over.

“The two German players have been massive disappointments, massive. I’m not even sure Timo Werner is cut out for Premier League football, the physical side is too much for him.

“I doubt very much whether Frank had a big say in over who came in.

“If they were worried about his lack of experience, maybe they should have brought someone in with a bit more experience around him. You need people around you when things are not going well, and he didn’t have that.

“The bottom line is you need time. You’re going to have your ups and downs.

“Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t have survived at Man Utd [nowadays]; he survived by the skin of his teeth, the board looked like they were going to sack him after 18 months or two years at Old Trafford when he hadn’t won anything, but he then went on for many, many years and was arguably the greatest manager we’ve ever had.

“You need time, and unfortunately at Chelsea it’s a club where they don’t seem to give you time.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has wished Lampard well for the future, explaining his decision to wield the axe by saying: “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.”

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