Thomas Tuchel sends class message to Frank Lampard as he's named Chelsea manager

New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has praised the work Frank Lampard did before him at the club and says he and his coaching staff have the ‘greatest respect’ for the legacy his predecessor left behind.

The 47-year-old German has put pen to paper on an 18-month contract in west London – with the possibility of an extension – and takes over the reins from Lampard with Chelsea languishing down in ninth place in the Premier League table.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain boss was pictured leading his first Chelsea training session at Cobham on Tuesday and will be in the Stamford Bridge dugout when the Blues face Wolves on Wednesday night.

‘I would like to thank Chelsea FC for their confidence in me and my staff,’ Tuchel told the club’s official website.

‘We all have the greatest respect for Frank Lampard’s work and the legacy he created at Chelsea.

‘At the same time, I cannot wait to meet my new team and compete in the most exciting league in football.

‘I am grateful to now be part of the Chelsea family – it feels amazing!’

Tuchel has been out of a job since being dismissed by PSG on Christmas Eve.

His dismissal came just four months after steering the Ligue 1 giants to the Champions League final for the first time in their history.

On Tuchel’s appointment, Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia said: ‘It is never easy to change head coach in the middle of the season but we are very happy to secure one of Europe’s best coaches in Thomas Tuchel.

‘There is still much to play for and much to achieve, this season and beyond.

‘We welcome Thomas to the club.’

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Lampard was relieved of his duties on Monday after Chelsea slumped to five defeats in their last eight Premier League games across a gruelling winter period.

In a brief statement on his Instagram page, Lampard said he was ‘proud’ of what he had achieved in his short spell as manager and wished the side all the best for the future.

‘It has been a privilege and an honour to manage Chelsea, a club that has been a big part of my life for so long,’ he posted.

‘Firstly, I would like to thank the fans for the incredible support that I have received over the last 18 months. I hope they know what that means to me.

‘When I took on this role I understood the challenges that lay ahead in a difficult time for the football club.

‘I am proud of the achievements that we made, and I am proud of the academy players that have made their step into the first team and performed so well. They are the future of the club.

‘I am disappointed not to have had the time this season to take the club forward and bring it to the next level.

‘I want to thank Mr [Roman] Abramovich, the board, players, my coaching team and everyone at the club for their hard work and dedication, especially in these unprecedented and challenging times.

‘I wish the team and the club every success for the future.’

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