Lampard’s brutal sacking evidence player power still dictates Chelsea policy

And so ends the Frank Lampard era at Chelsea – which was initially heralded as a positive move away from the hire-and-fire lifestyle in west London.

With the club legend at the helm and his policy to bring through the youth, the much-famed academy was finally getting the attention it deserved.

But at the first sign of difficulty at Stamford Bridge, Roman Abramovich has wielded the axe.

In the Russian's defence, this is a bleak period for Chelsea, who are ninth, with losses to Arsenal, Leicester and Everton draining players of their confidence while fans wince at the fixture list.

Abramovich is well within his right to act as the owner of the club and if he does not envisage a return to glory, he can do as he pleases – it is his money after all.

What will rankle with fans, however, is the poisonous atmosphere behind the scenes that contributed to the dismissal of Lampard – the greatest player the club has ever had.

Player power is nothing new, and certainly not on King's Road, where it has reigned rampantly since Roman's arrival.

Even Lampard can attest to that, with several managers coming and going while he ruled the dressing room with fellow influential stars John Terry, Didier Drogba and Petr Cech.

Nevertheless, the now-former Blues boss can still be forgiven for what has ultimately been a hatchet job from the inside since the first day of the season.

It has been a tough year for football, tussling with a pandemic that has hit every level of the game hard – not least in the wallet.

Chelsea seemingly forgot about the coronavirus pandemic when they forked out over £220m on players during the transfer window but getting them in wasn't the problem, it was getting them out.

Several senior stars, all internationals, quickly became surplus to requirements – Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso, Jorginho, Kepa Arrizabalaga – not mentioning the various fringe players who already had no future at the club such as Tiemoue Bakayoko, Davide Zappacosta and Danny Drinkwater.

Despite desperately trying to offload these hangers-on, many remained, and thus started the slow death of Lampard's reign at Stamford Bridge.

Over the coming months, the players now left on the sideline would speak to Chelsea chiefs over their discontent.

One player told The Athletic that Lampard staying on for the rest of the season would have been a “catastrophe”.

Another grumbled about how training was tiresome and gruelling, yet these complaints were not being made during Chelsea's 17-match unbeaten streak earlier this season? Or last year when they clinched the top-four and made the FA Cup final?

Only when the form went out of the window did the knives come out.

Lampard is not the perfect manager, he seemingly did not know his best XI, his substitutions were often reactive and ineffective and the jury is out on his tactical nous.

But players not giving their all can never be forgiven – nor will it be forgotten by Chelsea fans, who will be cheering Lampard's name when they are back at Stamford Bridge – whether that be tomorrow, next year or next decade.

The mentality is "me first, club second" for too many of the current crop, respect is earned – not given – something the likes of Mason Mount, Reece James and Tammy Abraham have in abundance after making the step up.

Lost your first-team spot? Earn it back. Work harder. Give everything. Don't whinge to the club bosses.

Abramovich had the chance to break the rotten wheel of player power at the club but he took the easy option, once again.

It will only embolden those who brought about Lampard's downfall and weaken the authority of any coach coming to SW6 in the future.

Good luck, Thomas Tuchel.

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